Hyundai Motor, Kia sales in U.S. rise 15 percent on year in January

Hyundai Motor and its affiliate Kia said Thursday their combined sales in the United States rose 15 percent in January from a year earlier on robust sales of SUVs and eco-friendly models.

Hyundai and Kia sold 103,984 vehicles in the world's most important automobile market last month, up from 90,360 units the previous year, according to the companies' sales data.

Hyundai's U.S. sales climbed 9 percent on-year to 52,001 units, and Kia's jumped 22 percent to 51,983, the data showed. The Hyundai figures didn't include the sales results of its independent brand, Genesis.

"On the heels of our best-ever annual retail sales performance, Kia accelerated into the new year with our sixth consecutive month of record-breaking sales thanks to the popularity of our capable SUVs and electrified models," Eric Watson, vice president in charge of sales operations at Kia America, said in a statement.

Yonhap