Spurred by the performance of hybrid and EV models, Kia, Hyundai, and Mazda just reported strong sales for May.
Broadly speaking: Kia recorded a record 80,502 sales in May, an 11% jump year-over-year. Hyundai sold 87,468 vehicles, a 3% rise from May 2025. Honda tallied 148,903 in sales for the month. Mazda had its best month since July 2025, with 39,066 vehicles sold.
The three automakers saw a rebound in hybrid and EV sales as consumers sought fuel-efficient options amid gas prices topping $4.50 in May.
Kia hits records: Kia’s hybrid sales spiked 179% and EVs 133%.
Kia’s Sportage and Sorento hybrids each saw triple-digit growth.
The Carnival hybrid was up 32%.
The Kia Telluride and Carnival had their best May performance, with 13,665 and 8,062 of each model sold.
“Even as consumer preferences continue to evolve, Kia continues to break retail, monthly and year-to-date sales records thanks to our wide range of ICE, hybrid and electrified models,” said Eric Watson, vice president, sales operations, Kia America, in a press release.
“With five consecutive months of record-breaking sales, the flagship 2027 Telluride continues to shatter all initial expectations. Traffic to showrooms nationwide is growing, and we are confident that this momentum will carry us through the first half of the year and beyond in spite of recent economic challenges.”
Hybrids buoy Hyundai increases: With the Tucson HEV, Santa Fe HEV, Elantra HEV, and Sonata HEV all achieving new May records, Hyundai saw a 90% increase year-over-year in hybrid sales.
The Sonata HEV recorded a 250% increase in sales.
Hyundai’s EV lineup had a 10% jump in sales, with the IONIQ 5 increasing 28%.
Hyundai’s Tucson led sales with 20,581 units sold. Hyundai sold 16,819 Elantras.
“Hyundai achieved growth across nearly every part of our lineup in May, from sedans to SUVs, including both hybrid and electric models,” said Randy Parker, president and CEO, Hyundai Motor North America, in a press release. “The market remains resilient, with solid underlying demand even as customers continue to navigate affordability pressures. Our hybrid portfolio is seeing strong traction, while EV demand continues to improve, leading to a new May sales record for IONIQ 5.”
Looking at Honda: The brand posted a hybrid sales record, moving 42,583 hybrid vehicles in May. The CR-V hybrid led the way with 24,401 units, making up 54% of the model’s 45,141 in sales.
Honda’s Passport set a May record with 5,689 units sold.
Honda’s truck sales totaled 99,886 for the month, an increase of 7.2% year-over-year.
The Acura brand posted its best month of the year with 13,215 vehicles sold.
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Over at Mazda: The company recorded a 35% improvement in sales year-over-year in May.
The carmaker’s CX-50 Hybrid had its best month ever, with 14,897 vehicles sold.
It was also a strong month for the Mazda3, with the hatchback and sedans selling 4,121 units, the most since May 2021.
Kia, Hyundai ahead for the year: With the strong May, Kia and Hyundai are now both up for the year.
Kia is off to its best five-month start with 360,220 vehicles sold, running 2% ahead of 2025. Hyundai is up 1%, with 371,013 units moved.
Honda reached 623,139 between the Honda and Acura brands for the year, down 0.2% from 2025. Mazda, similarly, is slightly behind the 2025 pace with 164,667 vehicles sold through May.
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