Seoul: Sales of Hyundai Motor Co. and Kia Corp. vehicles in the United States experienced a slight decline compared to the previous year, while hybrid vehicle numbers soared to a record monthly high, the automaker reported on Monday. The South Korean automakers collectively sold 159,216 vehicles in the American market in April, marking a 2.1 percent decrease year-on-year.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Hyundai Motor's sales reached 86,513 units, reflecting a 1.5 percent drop from the previous year. Its luxury brand, Genesis, saw a modest increase in sales, with 6,356 units sold, representing a 0.8 percent rise year-on-year. Meanwhile, Kia's sales declined by 2.8 percent, totaling 72,703 units.

The overall decline in sales was attributed to a base effect stemming from a surge in sales the previous year as consumers hurried to purchase vehicles before the implementation of Washington's auto tariffs. On the other hand, sales of eco-friendly cars, including electric vehicles (EVs), rose significantly by 47.6 percent year-on-year, totaling 48,425 units.

Hybrid car demand increased sharply by 57.8 percent year-on-year, impacted by the U.S. government's decision to terminate EV tax credits. Sales of electric vehicles experienced a slight rise of 7.7 percent, with 7,186 units sold, as reported by the carmakers.