Hyundai Motor and Kia's Sales in China Drop Below 10,000 Units

Hyundai Motor and Kia's combined sales in China dropped below 10,000 units in September 2026, reflecting ongoing challenges in the automotive market. This marks the first time this year that their sales have fallen below this threshold.

Hyundai's sales saw a sharp decline of 47% year-on-year, totaling around 4,000 units, while Kia's sales decreased by 31% to approximately 5,000 units. According to a report from Hana Securities, their combined sales plummeted by 39%, resulting in a market share decline to just 0.6%, down from over 10% in the mid-2010s.

Despite efforts to boost sales through the introduction of electric vehicles tailored for the Chinese market, the automakers have struggled to regain their footing. For instance, Hyundai's electric SUV Elexio sold only 251 units in the first nine months of this year, a stark contrast to the 1,216 units sold in the last quarter of the previous year.

The Ioniq V, Hyundai's first China-specific model under its Ioniq brand, managed to sell 558 units in September. The significant drop in sales reflects the increasing competition and changing consumer preferences in China’s automotive market.

Industry analysts suggest that Hyundai and Kia must adapt their strategies to better align with local market demands to improve their sales figures in the future.