3 Minutes
Kia's Electric Vehicles Struggle in a Cooling EV Market
2025 is shaping up to be a tough year for the electric vehicle (EV) industry, and Kia is feeling the pressure more than most. While innovative technology, improved performance, and bold design updates have defined the latest generation of electric cars, demand for EVs has softened compared to previous years. This slowdown is especially evident for Kia, with sales of their flagship EV9 SUV and EV6 crossover lagging significantly behind 2024 figures.
July 2025 Sales Reveal Declining EV Demand
According to Kia’s recently released sales statistics for July, the automaker moved 1,737 units of the EV9 and 1,290 units of the EV6. In comparison, July of 2024 saw 1,815 EV9s and 1,545 EV6s leave dealership lots. Such figures highlight a concerning trend, especially as full-year numbers paint an even starker picture: by the end of July 2025, Kia had sold just 7,165 EV6s—a sharp 42.6% drop from the same period last year. The EV9's numbers aren't much better, down 41.8% from 11,486 units in 2024 to only 6,675 sold so far this year.
EV6 and EV9: Design, Performance & Market Position
Despite the sales challenges, both the EV6 and EV9 remain at the cutting edge of Kia’s electric lineup. The EV9, an all-electric SUV, boasts a spacious, family-friendly design, advanced driver assistance features, and impressive range—making it a standout in the electric SUV segment. The EV6, a sporty electric crossover, offers rapid acceleration, agile handling, and distinctive styling. Both models compete directly with electric rivals like the Hyundai Ioniq 5, Ford Mustang Mach-E, and Tesla Model Y but may be suffering from increased competition and wavering consumer interest in EV adoption in 2025.
Gasoline Vehicles Drive Kia's Success
While Kia’s EV sales falter, their conventional gasoline-powered models are experiencing a banner year. The popular Kia K5 sedan has already surpassed 40,000 units sold. The Carnival minivan saw a remarkable 52.4% year-over-year increase, reaching 39,080 units sold in just seven months. Kia's versatile SUV lineup, including the best-selling Sportage (over 101,000 sales in 2025), Sorento, Telluride, and the new K4, are continuing to outperform expectations and drive overall brand growth. As a result, Kia’s total market share is up 8.3% year-over-year, positioning the brand for its highest-ever annual sales.
Future Strategy: Focusing on What Works
Kia acknowledges their surging success in the gas-powered vehicle segment. Eric Watson, Vice President of Sales Operations for Kia America, commented, “Kia is steadily progressing toward its highest annual sales record and an all-time high market share, fueled by record-breaking consumer sales growth.”
He added that Kia’s SUV lineup continues to register double-digit growth, and highlighted the launch of a new campaign for the 2026 Sportage—Kia’s most enduring and globally popular nameplate. With loyal customers and a proven lineup, the automaker may lean harder into its internal combustion models unless the EV market suddenly rebounds.
Kia’s Outlook Remains Strong Despite EV Headwinds
Although 2025 has proven challenging for Kia’s electric ambitions, the brand is capitalizing on continued strong demand for its combustion engine vehicles. Car enthusiasts and shoppers seeking reliability, performance, and value in family sedans, minivans, and SUVs will find much to celebrate in Kia’s latest lineup—while fans of electric vehicles await a fresh spark in the EV segment.
Source: carscoops
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