Kia’s EV push is paying off with a full lineup from entry-level electric SUVs to vans
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- Kia sold over 1.63 million vehicles globally in H1 2026, its highest first-half total since the automaker was founded in 1962, posting year-over-year global growth for four consecutive months.
- Kia registered 18,241 fully electric vehicles in the UK during H1 2026, with EVs accounting for roughly 30% of its UK sales — a regional EV-driven growth engine distinct from its US hybrid-SUV story.
- The EV2 long-range now starts at £24,245 ($32,500) after Kia became one of seven brands eligible for the UK's maximum £3,750 ($5,000) Electric Car Grant, applied to the EV2, EV3, EV4, and PV5 Passenger.
- The EV9 saw US sales jump 42% year-over-year to 7,035 units through June, while the EV6 dropped 31% to 4,043 — revealing uneven demand across Kia's existing EV nameplates.
- Kia's EV3 is expected to launch in the US by end of 2026 at about $35,000, with 220–320 mile FWD range options across five trims, and will replace the Niro EV, which Kia is dropping from its US lineup.
Why it matters: **Kia** posted its best H1 since 1962 with 1.63 million vehicles sold, driven by EVs that now make up 30% of its UK sales. In the US, the lineup is simultaneously expanding (EV9 +42% to 7,035 units) and contracting (Niro EV dropped), with the $35K EV3 arriving by year-end.
