Hyundai Motor America reported October sales of 57,094 units, an 8% increase in comparison with October 2018. The October sales result is the 14th time in the last 15 months with increasing overall Hyundai vehicle sales.

Retail Highlights

Hyundai’s retail sales increased a significant 12% in October, again driven by a standout sales performance from its SUV lineup. Retail gains were led by Santa Fe (up 26%), Tucson (up 16%), and Kona (up 27%), while Palisade sold 4,346 retail units, a 26% increase compared with last month, September 2019. In total, retail SUV sales finished at 28,547 units, the best ever October total, representing a 60% mix of retail volume compared with 50% mix in October 2018. This was also the fourth consecutive month exceeding 60% SUV retail mix as Hyundai becomes in closer alignment with the industry. Hyundai’s broad eco-friendly lineup also performed well with total green vehicle sales up 64%, including Ioniq retail sales jumping 36% and Sonata HEV and PHEV up a combined 42%.

Total Volume Highlights

Hyundai SUVs set their all-time October total sales record, selling 32,140 units and growing 36% compared with October 2018. Kona sales increased by 27% setting an October record and Santa Fe grew 42%. The SUV performance represented 56% of total Hyundai sales compared with 45% in October of last year.

Hyundai’s eco-friendly vehicles continue to perform well with total sales of all alternative-fueled vehicles increasing by 153%, including Ioniq growing 147% and setting a new October record. Additionally, Hyundai continues to reduce its dependency on fleet sales, which were down 8% on the month and represented 16% of total sales.

“We are off to a quick start to the fourth quarter of 2019 and we anticipate another month with increasing Hyundai market share,” said Randy Parker, vice president, National Sales, Hyundai Motor America. “We are coming off an extremely productive Hyundai national dealer meeting and are committed with our retailer partners to continuing to enhance our performance with dynamic product, appropriate incentives and inventory management that will accelerate the momentum that we are building.”

October Product and Corporate Activities

  • National Hydrogen Day: Hyundai celebrated National Hydrogen Day by acknowledging its owners who have accumulated 8.4 million emission free miles in the NEXO and Tucson Fuel Cell vehicles.
  • BotRide Launch: Hyundai, in collaboration with Pony.ai and Via, unveiled BotRide, a shared, on-demand, autonomous Kona Electric vehicle service operating in Irvine, California.
  • IMSA TCR Championship: Mark Wilkins and Michael Lewis, drivers of the #98 Hyundai Veloster N TCR Race Car clinched the 2019 IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge Drivers’ Championship, while Bryan Herta Autosport secured the Team Title and Hyundai finished a close second in the Manufacturers’ Championship.
  • SEMA: In preparation for the SEMA Show, Hyundai began releasing information on its SEMA build cars, including a Veloster N Performance Concept Vehicle, the Veloster Grappler Concept, and NEXO and Sonata Hybrid Concepts that set land speed records.
  • Hyundai Fill it Forward Challenge: At three California universities, Hyundai is spreading awareness about water sustainability and its eco-friendly vehicle offerings through a newly launched marketing campaign.
  • New Chief Marketing Officer: Hyundai named Angela Zepeda its new chief marketing officer, who joined Hyundai from its advertising agency, INNOCEAN USA.

Model Sales

VehicleOct-19Oct-182019 YTD2018 YTD
Accent1,7061,48321,72123,303
Elantra13,58318,312139,052167,191
Ioniq2,7691,12116,91512,727
Kona5,5144,33060,65232,795
Nexo17021436*
Palisade4,357017,8140
Santa Fe10,9647,728107,28396,697
Sonata6,0627,26574,43088,240
Tucson11,28811,493114,149114,971
Veloster83492111,2208,857

*Includes Tucson Fuel Cell sales