Hyundai and Kia both set new February sales records in the US last month, but with no confirmed 2026 model year, a few EVs may get the axe.
2026 Hyundai IONIQ 6 and Kia EV6 remain up in the air
While the popular IONIQ 5 bounced back last month, with sales rebounding 33% from February 2025 to 3,329 units, most other Hyundai and Kia electric vehicles faced a different fate.
Sales of the Hyundai IONIQ 6 dropped 77% with only 229 models sold last month. Kia’s EV6 and EV9 didn’t fare much better with sales down 53% (600 units sold) and 40% (819 units sold), respectively.
To make matters worse, the Hyundai IONIQ 5, IONIQ 9, and Kia EV9 are the only EVs with confirmed 2026 model years, raising speculation that the IONIQ 6 and Kia EV6 may be on the way out.
Although the upgraded 2026 model was expected to launch in the US, the 2025 Kia EV6 is still the only one available online.
Hyundai has the 2026 IONIQ 6 as an “all-new model,” but the page still says more “details to come.” When exactly? It’s already March.
When asked about a 2026 model, a Kia spokesperson told Car and Driver that the “EV6 remains in the Kia lineup,” adding there will be “more news on it shortly.” Hyundai has yet to respond.
However, the high-performance EV6 GT, Kia’s Ferrari-beating electric sports car, will no longer be available for US buyers.
The news comes after Kia already said it was delaying the EV4, its entry-level electric sedan, “until further notice.” It was expected to arrive in the US this year alongside the EV3, Kia’s compact electric SUV that’s already a top-seller in the UK, Europe, and other overseas markets.
Electrek’s Take
Since the EV3, EV4, and EV6 GT are built in Korea, the Trump administration’s import tariffs and other policy changes are likely the biggest reason to blame.
Kia and Hyundai, like many others, are hesitant to bring new EVs to the US due to the changes. If the IONIQ 6 and EV6 are discontinued, they will join a string of other models that have either been postponed or canceled altogether.
The policy changes are not only setting the US behind China, Korea, and others leading the shift to electrification, but they’re limiting options for buyers in the US.
Kia’s EV3 and EV4 were set to go on sale as affordable, mass market models. And they will be, just not in the US.
Meanwhile, if you’re looking for an electric vehicle, Hyundai and Kia are still the most affordable options. You can find local offers and available models at a dealership near you using the links below.
Hyundai vehicles near you:
Kia vehicles near you:
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