Los angeles: Hyundai Motor Co. and Kia Corp. reported record vehicle sales for February in the United States, driven by robust demand for sport utility vehicles (SUVs) and hybrid models, the automakers said Wednesday. The South Korean automakers sold a combined 137,412 vehicles in the U.S. last month, up 5 percent from a year earlier, according to the companies.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Hyundai Motor, including its luxury brand Genesis, sold 71,407 units, marking a 5.7 percent increase compared to the previous year. Kia's sales also saw an upward trend with a 4.3 percent rise, totaling 66,005 units. Both companies achieved their highest-ever sales figures for the month of February.

Hyundai Motor's sales performance was notably buoyed by strong demand for their midsize and large SUVs. Sales of the Palisade model increased by 28.4 percent, reaching 10,025 units, while the Santa Fe saw an 18.6 percent rise with 11,344 units sold.

Kia's sales growth was supported by significant gains in key models. The Telluride SUV experienced a sales surge of 68.7 percent, totaling 13,198 units, and the K5 sedan also saw a remarkable increase of 60.6 percent, equaling 13,198 units sold.

In contrast to the overall positive sales figures, combined electric vehicle (EV) sales for the two companies fell by 21.9 percent to 5,576 units. This decline reflects the ongoing impact of Washington's auto tariffs and the rollback of related subsidies.