Kia's Q3 profit jumps 24.3% on hybrid, SUV sales growth

Kia reported a 24.3 percent rise in operating profit to 1.82 trillion won between July and September, supported by growth in hybrid, electric vehicle and SUV sales across major markets. Global vehicle sales increased 7.9 percent to 847,355. Higher raw material costs, the Middle East conflict, sales incentives and price adjustments weighed on profitability, while higher volumes, favorable exchange rates and a reduction in U.S. auto tariffs supported earnings. Kia plans to expand hybrid sales in Korea and the U.S. and strengthen its EV lineup in Europe in the fourth quarter.

Kia’s sales increased 10.2 percent to 31.6 percent during the quarter, according to the article.

U.S. retail sales rose 7.8 percent to approximately 234,000 units, and Kia’s U.S. market share reached a quarterly record of 5.8 percent.

Kia’s U.S. hybrid sales surged 118 percent to 69,000 vehicles, while its share of the U.S. hybrid market reached 10.6 percent.

In Western Europe, Kia sold approximately 63,000 EVs, equal to 43.2 percent of its regional sales, compared with 19.2 percent a year earlier.

Rising raw material costs and the prolonged Middle East conflict reduced operating profit by approximately 570 billion won compared with a year earlier.

Published Oct 30, 2026 3:24 pm KST

Electrification strategy helps drive growth despite weaker global auto demand

Kia headquarters in Seoul / Yonhap

Kia has achieved solid earnings growth in the third quarter, supported by rising sales of hybrids, electric vehicles (EVs) and popular SUV models across major markets, the carmaker said Friday in a regulatory filing.

The carmaker said its operating profit between July and September jumped 24.3 percent to 1.82 trillion won ($1.36 billion). Sales also increased 10.2 percent to 31.6 percent during the same period.

The automaker's earnings growth was driven by its diversified electrification strategy, as it helped sustain growth despite weakening global auto demand, Kia said.

Global vehicle sales rose 7.9 percent to 847,355 vehicles in the third quarter on balanced sales growth of its hybrids, EVs and SUV models.

Kia's SUV lineup, including the Sportage, Carnival and newly introduced Telluride Hybrid, helped drive sales in the United States, where retail sales rose 7.8 percent to approximately 234,000 units. The automaker's U.S. market share reached a quarterly record of 5.8 percent.

Hybrid sales in the U.S. surged 118 percent to 69,000 vehicles, significantly outpacing the market's 27 percent growth. The launch of the Telluride Hybrid and local production of the Sportage Hybrid contributed to the increase. Kia's share of the U.S. hybrid market reached 10.6 percent, marking its first double-digit quarterly share since entering the segment in 2011.

From left are Kia's Carnival minivan, Sportage SUV and Sorento SUV / Courtesy of Kia

In Western Europe, Kia's sales increased 16.9 percent to 145,000 vehicles, supported by demand for its expanded EV lineup. The automaker sold approximately 63,000 EVs in the region, accounting for 43.2 percent of its total sales there, more than double the 19.2 percent recorded a year earlier.

Sales in India — another major overseas market for Kia along with the U.S. and Europe — also rose 38.5 percent to 89,000 units, driven by the new Seltos compact SUV launched earlier this year and the impact of newly unveiled models, including the Sorento and Syros EV. Kia also climbed one spot to fifth in the local market in terms of sales ranking from the previous quarter.

However, external pressures continued to weigh on profitability. Rising raw material costs and prolonged conflict in the Middle East reduced operating profit by approximately 570 billion won compared with a year earlier. Increased sales incentives and price adjustments, particularly in Europe and Korea, also weighed on earnings.

Meanwhile, the adjustment of U.S. automotive tariffs from 25 percent to 15 percent, higher sales volumes and favorable foreign exchange movements supported operating profit growth in the third quarter.

Kia plans to expand sales of high-margin hybrid models in Korea and the U.S. in the fourth quarter, and focus on strengthening its EV lineup in Europe.

Kim Seung-jun, head of Kia's finance and accounting division, struck a cautious tone on the fourth-quarter outlook.

“It will be difficult to achieve a dramatic turnaround in profitability in the fourth quarter as well," Kim told investors during a conference call. "The key variable is the war in the Middle East, and it is difficult to make a firm assessment as the conflict could also come to an end.”

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起亚汽车公布，7月至9月营业利润增长24.3%，达到1.82万亿韩元，主要得益于混合动力车、电动汽车和SUV在主要市场的销量增长。全球汽车销量增长7.9%，达到847,355辆。原材料成本上涨、中东冲突、销售激励措施和价格调整对盈利能力造成了一定压力，而销量增长、有利的汇率以及美国汽车关税的降低则支撑了盈利。起亚计划在第四季度扩大其在韩国和美国的混合动力车销量，并加强其在欧洲的电动汽车产品阵容。

文章指出，起亚汽车本季度销量增长了10.2%，达到31.6%。

美国零售销量增长7.8%，达到约23.4万辆，起亚汽车在美国的市场份额达到季度纪录5.8%。

起亚汽车在美国的混合动力汽车销量激增 118%，达到 69,000 辆，其在美国混合动力汽车市场的份额达到 10.6%。

在西欧，起亚售出了约 63,000 辆电动汽车，占其区域销量的 43.2%，而一年前这一比例为 19.2%。

原材料成本上涨和中东冲突持续不断，导致营业利润比上年同期减少了约 5700 亿韩元。

发布于2026年10月30日下午3:24（韩国标准时间）

尽管全球汽车需求疲软，但电气化战略仍有助于推动增长。

起亚汽车首尔总部 / 韩联社

起亚汽车周五在一份监管​​文件中表示，在主要市场混合动力汽车、电动汽车和热门SUV车型销量增长的支持下，该公司第三季度实现了稳健的盈利增长。

这家汽车制造商表示，其7月至9月的营业利润增长了24.3%，达到1.82万亿韩元（约合13.6亿美元）。同期，销量也增长了10.2%，达到31.6%。

起亚表示，其盈利增长得益于多元化的电气化战略，该战略帮助其在全球汽车需求疲软的情况下维持了增长。

第三季度全球汽车销量增长7.9%，达到847355辆，这得益于其混合动力汽车、电动汽车和SUV车型的均衡销售增长。

起亚的SUV产品线，包括狮跑（Sportage）、嘉华（Carnival）以及新推出的Telluride混合动力车型，推动了其在美国的销量增长，零售销量增长7.8%，达到约23.4万辆。该汽车制造商在美国的市场份额也创下季度新高，达到5.8%。

美国混合动力车销量激增118%，达到6.9万辆，远超市场27%的增速。Telluride Hybrid的上市以及Sportage Hybrid的本地化生产是推动销量增长的主要因素。起亚在美国混合动力车市场的份额达到10.6%，这是自2011年进入该细分市场以来，首次实现两位数的季度市场份额。

从左至右依次为起亚嘉华（Carnival）MPV、狮跑（Sportage）SUV和索兰托（Sorento）SUV / 图片由起亚提供

在西欧，起亚汽车销量增长16.9%，达到14.5万辆，这主要得益于其不断扩大的电动汽车产品线的需求。该汽车制造商在该地区售出了约6.3万辆电动汽车，占其在该地区总销量的43.2%，是去年同期19.2%的两倍多。

印度是起亚汽车除美国和欧洲之外的另一个主要海外市场，其销量也增长了38.5%，达到8.9万辆。这主要得益于今年早些时候推出的新款Seltos紧凑型SUV以及包括Sorento和Syros电动车在内的新车型的上市。起亚汽车在印度市场的销量排名也较上一季度上升一位，位列第五。

然而，外部压力持续对盈利能力构成压力。原材料成本上涨和中东地区持续冲突导致营业利润较上年同期减少约5700亿韩元。此外，销售激励措施的增加和价格调整，尤其是在欧洲和韩国，也对盈利造成了影响。

与此同时，美国汽车关税从 25% 调整至 15%，销量增长以及有利的汇率波动支撑了第三季度的营业利润增长。

起亚汽车计划在第四季度扩大韩国和美国高利润混合动力车型的销量，并专注于加强其在欧洲的电动汽车产品阵容。

起亚汽车财务会计部门负责人金承俊对第四季度的前景持谨慎态度。

金在电话会议上告诉投资者：“第四季度盈利能力大幅扭转的难度依然很大。关键变数在于中东战争，而且由于冲突也可能结束，因此很难做出确切的评估。”

尽管面临外部挑战，现代汽车第三季度营业利润仍增长5.5%。

由于车型短缺，现代和起亚9月份销量下降1.7%。

现代和起亚9月份在美国的销量均创下纪录。