USAHyundai Motor America closed the first half of 2026 with record sales of 450,568 vehicles, up 3% year-over-year. June was the brand’s best month ever in the US at 77,555 units, up 11%, while Q2 sales rose 4% to 245,180 vehicles.
The growth is coming from hybrids, not electric vehicles. Electrified models made up 33% of first-half sales, and hybrid volume climbed 74% in June, 71% in Q2, and 67% year-to-date. The Sonata Hybrid led with sales up 246%, followed by the Tucson Hybrid at +14% and the Santa Fe Hybrid at +12%. The Ioniq 5 grew a more modest 9% year-to-date, a sign that Hyundai’s EV lineup is contributing far less to the overall gain than its hybrids.
The pattern mirrors Toyota’s long-running strategy of leaning on hybrids as the volume driver while EV demand growth slows industry-wide. For Hyundai, it marks a shift in emphasis: a brand that built its recent US momentum on the Ioniq EV lineup is now finding its record sales driven by conventional hybrid variants of existing models instead.
The fourth-generation Hyundai Tucson (2026 model year, North America) is a compact SUV offered with a 187 hp 2.5-litre petrol engine or a 231 hp 1.6-litre turbo hybrid, both available with all-wheel drive. US pricing starts at $29,450 for the base gas SE and $32,450 for the Blue SE hybrid.
The fifth-generation Hyundai Santa Fe (2026 model year, North America) is a three-row midsize SUV offered with a 277 hp turbo 2.5-litre petrol engine or a 231 hp 1.6-litre turbo hybrid. US pricing starts at $34,800 for the gas SE and $36,400 for the Hybrid SE.
