Despite another record US sales month, several Hyundai and Kia electric vehicles are being delayed indefinitely or dropped altogether.
Hyundai cuts IONIQ 6, more Kia EVs delayed in the US
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 fared 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.
Now, it’s official. A Hyundai spokesperson confirmed to Car and Driver that the standard IONIQ 6 will not return for a 2026 model year. Only the performance N model will remain on sale.
Hyundai updated the 2026 IONIQ 6 with a sleek redesign and a refined interior, including a new 3-spoke steering wheel and its latest Connected Car Navigation Cockpit (ccNC) infotainment system.
The company spokesperson told Car and Driver that “Going forward, our award-winning Ioniq 6 lineup will consist of the all-new Ioniq 6,” while the standard version is discontinued.
After the IONIQ 6 N made its North American debut at the LA Auto Show last November, Hyundai said it would be sold in limited quantities in the US.
Based on a dual motor all-wheel-drive (AWD) powertrain, the IONIQ 6 N packs 641 horsepower and 568 lb-ft of torque, enabling it to hit 0 to 60 mph in just 3.2 seconds.
Like the IONIQ 5 N, Hyundai added fun features like N e-Shift and N Active Sound + that simulate the sounds and jerk feeling of an internal combustion engine.
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.”
Meanwhile, the high-performance 2025 EV6 GT, Kia’s Ferrari-beating electric sports car, and the 2026 EV9 GT, will be delayed until further notice. Kia’s spokesperson said the delay will not impact other EV6 and EV9 trims.
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
While Hyundai didn’t directly say it, since the EV3, EV4, EV6 GT, and Hyundai IONIQ 6 are built in Korea, the Trump administration’s import tariffs and other policy changes are likely the biggest reason to blame here.
Kia and Hyundai, like many others, are hesitant to bring new EVs to the US due to the changes. The IONIQ 6, EV6 GT, and EV9 GT 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.
Top comment by Pete Za
I feel like if they gave the Ioniq 6 rear end some more attention and love, it could be more popular. As it stands now, the vehicle looks like the designers gave up before the C pillar. It's definitely recognizable in my co-worker's Ioniq 6's trunk opening being too small to fit anything of any useful into it, like a smaller cooler with drinks and ice. Maybe I don't understand aerodynamics enough, but it seems like they could put a normal rear end on it like basically every other sedan on the market, lose a small amount of efficiency, but gain significant amounts of functionality without having to go to a full hatchback model like the Ioniq 5.
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.
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