With 2025 now behind us, car brands are taking a close look at how the year played out. For Kia, the picture is mostly positive. The company closed the year with global sales up by two percent, delivering 3.13 million vehicles worldwide—the highest annual sales total in its history.
That said, Kia didn’t quite hit its own goal. The brand had hoped to sell 3.22 million vehicles, falling just short of that target. Still, the overall trend is clear: Kia is growing, and it’s confident about what comes next.
Looking ahead, the company is aiming to sell 3.35 million vehicles in 2026, a target that seems well within reach. New and updated models are on the way, including the next-generation Kia Telluride and a refreshed Kia Seltos, both expected to attract strong demand.
SUVs Continue To Lead The Way
It’s no surprise that SUVs were Kia’s biggest strength in 2025. The Sportage was the brand’s top seller, with 569,688 units sold, making it Kia’s most popular vehicle by a wide margin. The Seltos came next with 299,766 units, while the Sorento followed closely behind at 264,673 units. Simply put, Kia’s three best-selling vehicles were all SUVs—and that trend doesn’t look like it’s slowing down.
Bigger Plans At Home And Abroad
Kia is preparing for an even stronger year by increasing production and focusing on key markets. In South Korea, the brand wants to sell 565,000 vehicles in 2026, up from 545,776 units sold last year. Outside its home market, Kia expects further growth, targeting 2.775 million international sales, compared to 2.58 million units in 2025.
Special vehicles—such as military and purpose-built trucks—are counted separately. Kia plans to sell 10,000 of these vehicles in 2026, nearly double the 5,789 units delivered last year.
Hyundai And The EV Outlook
Kia’s parent company, Hyundai, also came close to its sales goal in 2025. While it didn’t reach its original target of 4.17 million vehicles, Hyundai still delivered a strong 4.14 million units worldwide. For 2026, the group is aiming for 4.16 million vehicles sold.
On the electric side, attention is starting to build around the upcoming Ioniq 3. The small electric car is expected to appeal to buyers looking for an affordable entry into EV ownership. However, since it won’t arrive until later this year, its real impact on sales is more likely to be seen in 2027.
