Seoul, Aug 2 (IANS) Hyundai Motor and Kia sold more than 100,000 electric vehicles (EVs) in Europe in the first half of the year as the South Korean automakers stepped up efforts to strengthen their presence in the region, the companies said on Sunday.
A total of 131,032 EVs were sold in Europe during the first six months of 2026, up a sharp 41.8 percent from 92,365 recorded in the previous half, according to Hyundai and Kia.
Kia’s EV3 compact sport utility vehicle (SUV) was the bestselling model with 27,121 units sold, followed by Hyundai’s Inster subcompact SUV with 16,594 units and Kia’s EV4 sedan with 14,502 units, reports Yonhap news agency.
If the current sales pace continues through the end of the year, the companies expect annual EV sales in Europe to surpass 200,000 units for the first time since they entered the European EV market in 2014.
Hyundai and Kia first topped 100,000 annual EV sales in Europe in 2021, and their combined sales have risen steadily since then, reaching 183,912 units in 2025.
Their cumulative EV sales in Europe surpassed the 1 million mark through May.
The automakers, which belong to Hyundai Motor Group, have been expanding their EV lineup in Europe, where demand for environmentally friendly vehicles remains strong. They currently offer 14 EV models in the region.
“As competition in the European EV market intensifies, we plan to further expand our EV lineup to increase our market share,” a source at the conglomerate said.
Meanwhile, Hyundai Motor Group said it plans to expand its sport utility vehicle (SUV) and eco-friendly vehicle lineup in Brazil as it seeks to strengthen its position in the Latin American market.
Executive Chair Euisun Chung recently toured Hyundai Motor Co.’s plant in Sao Paulo and the group’s regional headquarters for Latin America during President Lee Jae Myung’s state visit to Brazil, the group said in a press release.
Hyundai Motor produces about 200,000 vehicles a year in Brazil, including its HB20 subcompact and i20 hatchback models.
The company plans to expand its SUV lineup, introduce locally tailored eco-friendly vehicles and develop hydrogen infrastructure to support future growth, the release said.
—IANS
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