Seoul: Hyundai Motor Co. and Kia Corp. have reported record U.S. sales figures for the first quarter of this year, even as the companies experienced a year-on-year decrease in sales for March.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the South Korean automotive giants collectively sold 168,012 units in the U.S. in March, marking a 2.7 percent decline from the previous year. Hyundai Motor's sales reached 91,504 units, which included 7,417 units of its luxury brand Genesis, while Kia's sales stood at 76,508 units. Individually, Hyundai Motor and Kia recorded sales decreases of 2.8 percent and 2.6 percent, respectively, last month. However, Genesis saw a sales growth of 4.3 percent over the same period.

Despite the dip in March, Hyundai and Kia achieved record sales for the entire January to March period. The combined sales for the first quarter totaled 430,720 units, reflecting a 2.6 percent increase compared to the same timeframe in 2025. The surge in quarterly sales was largely supported by heightened demand for popular sport utility vehicle (SUV) models. Hyundai's Tucson and Santa Fe, along with Kia's Sportage and Telluride, were noted as key contributors to this demand.

Further details from the companies highlighted a significant rise in eco-friendly vehicle sales, which increased by 33.3 percent year-on-year to 115,713 units in the first quarter. These eco-friendly vehicles accounted for 26.8 percent of the total sales, underscoring a growing consumer interest in sustainable automotive options.