Kia Corp

SoundHound AI has deployed its voice and generative AI technology in the Kia Sorento, marking the vehicle's global debut and a category first for the Indian market. The integration, powered by SoundHound's OASYS platform, brings Kia's AI Assistant with Real-Time Generative AI to the Sorento, enabling continuous multi-turn conversations through the "Hey Kia" assistant for control of climate, lighting, windows and driving modes, plus real-time navigation and vehicle information. SoundHound is a conversational intelligence company providing independent Voice AI across automotive, IoT and customer service, with its technology backed by more than 400 patents and expanded through the Polaris in-house model stack. The company has moved beyond automotive into restaurants, retail, healthcare, financial services, telecommunications and energy, though it continues to face operating losses, negative cash flow and execution risks. SoundHound currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).

Cox Automotive, a major US automotive services company, announced on the 24th that it forecasts General Motors and Ford Motor will see the largest declines in US market share in the first through third quarters among the 13 automakers surveyed. Ford's year-to-date cumulative sales are down 8.8% from the same period last year, and its share is expected to fall by nearly 1 percentage point from a year earlier to 12.5%, while GM's sales are seen down 6.2% and its share dropping from 17.4% to 16.7%. Meanwhile, Stellantis, the other member of the US Big Three, is projected to gain share, but the combined share of the three companies is expected to remain at about 36%, a record low. Analysts point out that GM and Ford are being hurt by a relative shortage of fuel-efficient passenger cars and SUVs compared with competitors, and that automakers offering multiple hybrid models are posting relatively solid results this year amid high gasoline prices. Combined sales of South Korea's Hyundai Motor and its affiliate Kia are expected to surpass Ford in the third quarter, marking the first time they have topped Ford on a quarterly basis.

Boston Dynamics officially opened its Robotics Metaplant Application Center at Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America outside Savannah, Georgia on Monday, transitioning from pilot operations that began in June to full-scale operations. The center serves as a test bed and training center for integrating Atlas humanoids across Hyundai's automotive factories, with Boston Dynamics training the robots to take over repetitive parts sequencing and heavy-lifting tasks over the next few years and component assembly by 2030. Boston Dynamics, which became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hyundai in July, said it plans to begin exploring use cases for Atlas in other industry sectors next year, and will move into a new building at the Georgia site that will make its test bed and training center 10 times its current size. The center is a key part of Hyundai's larger strategy unveiled in January to restructure its manufacturing environments for humans to work safely alongside robots; Hyundai initially plans to deploy 25,000 Atlas units across its global plants, including Kia factories, over the next few years, and will establish a U.S. facility capable of producing 30,000 robots per year, with a location not disclosed. Separately, the Toyota Group aims to deploy close to 400,000 robots to update its aging factories and supplier network, starting in 2028 with 150,000 units across Toyota Motor Corp. and the Toyota Group plus 250,000 units at various suppliers, a total that includes replacement of existing robots and new units such as humanoids; Toyota's factory automation efforts could cost up to $6.4 billion per year, according to Reuters.

Automotive analyst John Murphy has predicted hybrids will account for 34% of the U.S. market by 2030, up from just over 18% in 2026, a shift that could redirect investor attention from speculative EV startups to established automakers and the automotive ETFs holding them. Hybrid electric vehicles reached a record 16% of light-duty vehicle sales in the second quarter of 2026, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, while battery electric vehicles saw their market share decline to 6% from 7% the previous year. Toyota, Honda and Hyundai Motor Group currently control 86% of the surging U.S. hybrid market, according to Baum & Associates data cited by CNBC, with Toyota selling over 600,000 hybrids in the United States in the first half of 2026 for a 50% market share and Honda's hybrids now accounting for 31% of American Honda's total sales. The shift has been driven by the expiration of the federal $7,500 EV tax credit in September 2025, which raised the cost of pure EVs by thousands of dollars overnight, and by hybrid pricing that has dropped considerably, with Toyota, Honda, Ford, Hyundai and Kia pushing hybrid variants into their most popular mainstream models at a modest upcharge of $1,500-$2,000. Among the funds positioned for the trend, the Global X Autonomous & Electric Vehicles ETF DRIV, with net assets of $359.2 million, has gained 12.3% year to date and charges 68 basis points, while the First Trust S-Network Future Vehicles & Technology ETF CARZ, with net assets of $46.7 million, has rallied 33% year to date and charges 70 basis points, and the State Street SPDR S&P Kensho Smart Mobility ETF HAIL, with assets under management of $18 million, has risen 3.7% year to date and charges 45 basis points.

Kia is adding a hybrid powertrain to its flagship Telluride SUV for 2027, pairing a 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with an electric motor for 329 horsepower and 339 lb-ft of torque. The move comes as the nameplate posted its best first half ever, with Kia selling 73,602 Tellurides in the US in the first half of 2026, up about 20% year over year, while Kia's US hybrid sales more than doubled, up 115% in the first half. The 2027 Telluride HEV uses a conventional self-charging hybrid setup with a small 1.65-kWh battery and is EPA-rated at 31 mpg combined, 30 city, and 32 highway. A loaded X-Line SX Prestige AWD test vehicle stickered at $61,180. The redesign also moves the SUV further upmarket, with a cabin that approaches luxury-brand refinement and a rear profile that closely resembles a Range Rover.

Hyundai Motor Group announced it has put its Data Flywheel into full operation, a system creating a virtuous cycle of data collection, AI training, validation and deployment to accelerate autonomous driving development. At its HMG Autonomous Driving Media Day at 42dot headquarters in Gyeonggi Province, Korea, the Group outlined a Dual-Track strategy that pairs NVIDIA solutions-based Level 2+ production targeted for the first half of 2028 and Level 2++ in the second half of 2028, followed by Atria AI-powered Level 2++ vehicles in the second half of 2029. The Group is pursuing progressive sensor standardization across Hyundai Motor, Kia, 42dot and Motional, and is expanding its data ecosystem by leveraging annual sales of 7 million vehicles and its Data Union framework, with a data-centric development framework based on hard example mining, continuous training and SER. A real-world Level 4 pilot will launch in Gwangju by year-end in partnership with Korea's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport to secure large-scale validation data, while 42dot shared its Vision-Language-Action autonomous driving technology, which integrates visual information and language-based reasoning to guide driving decisions and address edge cases alongside parallel end-to-end autonomy development. Minwoo Park, President and Head of Advanced Vehicle Platform Division at Hyundai Motor Group and CEO of 42dot, said autonomous driving competitiveness now comes down to how much data a company secures, how quickly it learns and how effectively those results reach products and services.

Kia has given its most popular model, the Telluride, a redesign from the ground up, and Yahoo Finance Senior Autos Reporter Pras Subramanian got a firsthand look at the new three-row flagship SUV. Subramanian described the new Telluride as having an imposing, brutish exterior with a blacked-out front end and a rear that resembles a Range Rover, calling it the Brooklyn Range Rover, with near-luxury levels of comfort inside including synthetic suede seats and good electronics. The new model adds a four-cylinder hybrid engine producing around 330 horsepower, which Subramanian said is good but not great for a vehicle that big, with the trade-off being fuel economy of around 31 miles per gallon and even better in city driving. The high-end SX Prestige trim he tested was priced at $60,000, while the base model starts at $40,000, up from $35,000 when the Telluride first launched in 2019. Subramanian said the Telluride stands out for Kia because it gives Americans the larger footprint they want, with two captain's chairs in the middle row, and that it offers looks, value and a bit of cachet the brand did not used to have.

Hyundai-Posco Louisiana Steel, a joint venture between Hyundai Steel and Posco Group, has begun construction of a $5.8 billion fully integrated steel plant in Louisiana, with production slated to start in the first quarter of 2029. The venture will fund half of the project, with Posco contributing 20% and Hyundai and Kia each 15%. Described as the first-of-its-kind electric arc furnace plant, it will supply low-carbon steel sheets to North American automakers, particularly Hyundai Motor Group, and is expected to employ over 1,300 people directly. The facility aims to cut CO2 emissions by 70% compared to conventional blast furnaces and will support South Korea's $350 billion US investment commitment under the 2025 trade deal.

According to data from research firm New Automotive, registrations of new battery electric vehicles (BEVs) in the UK in August rose by approximately 30% year-on-year, making them the largest fuel type in the market. Total new car registrations increased by 17.5% to 93,977 units, of which BEVs accounted for 27,876 units, representing a market share of about 30%. Hybrid vehicles held a share of about 29%, while petrol cars accounted for about 21.5%. Amid a global oil shock due to the situation in Iran, which has driven up fuel costs, customers are turning to alternatives, accelerating EV adoption in Europe. Ben Nelmes, CEO of New Automotive, said that while policymakers and lobbyists debate the details of the ZEV mandate, the industry is working hard to supply EVs and electric light commercial vehicles, for which consumer demand is rising. By manufacturer, US EV giant Tesla led with an 8.8% market share year-to-date, followed by South Korea's Kia at 6.7%, and China's BYD at 6.4%. Kia maintained its position as the leader in new BEV registrations for the second consecutive month.

Hyundai Mobis has commenced full-scale mass production of PE systems, the integrated electric powertrain units that power EVs, at its new plant in Nováky, Slovakia, marking its first PE system production base in Europe and its third electrification facility in the region, following BSA plants in the Czech Republic and Spain. The facility, which held its grand opening ceremony attended by Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico and other officials, has an annual capacity of up to 280,000 PE systems and represents an investment of approximately KRW 250 billion. The plant will supply key electrification components to Hyundai Motor, Kia, and other global automakers, supporting Hyundai Mobis's goal of increasing revenue from global customers to 40% by 2033.

Kia America sold 83,793 units in August, marking a 1 percent year-over-year increase and setting a new all-time monthly sales record. For the January-August period, cumulative sales reached 590,377 units, with retail sales totaling 543,085 units, both up 3 percent year-over-year and representing all-time highs. Six key models—Telluride, Seltos, Sportage, Carnival, K5, and K4—achieved their best-ever August sales figures, while hybrid sales surged 99 percent and total electrified models rose 36 percent year-over-year, also setting records. The company also announced pricing for the all-new 2027 EV3, starting at $29,890 MSRP, making it the most affordable EV in Kia's lineup, and for the refreshed 2027 Niro, also starting at $29,890. Kia America expects to maintain its record-breaking momentum through the end of the year, aiming for a fourth consecutive annual sales record.

Kia America has announced pricing for the gas-powered 2027 Sportage, with the LX FWD model starting at $28,990 MSRP, excluding the $1,495 destination fee. The X-Line trim now includes a Panoramic Sunroof and Smart Power Liftgate as standard, aligning it with the Hybrid and Plug-in Hybrid versions, and adds a new Road Rider Brown exterior color. Other trims range from the LX AWD at $30,790 to the X-Pro AWD at $39,890. The 2027 Sportage ICE remains largely carryover, with these updates enhancing its appeal.

Pacific Gas and Electric Company announced a significant expansion of its Vehicle-to-Everything program, adding Bidirectional Energy and PowerFlex as approved partners and making EVs from Kia, Volvo, Polestar, and Nissan newly eligible. The expansion also includes new General Motors models such as the Chevrolet Bolt, Cadillac Celestiq, and Cadillac Escalade IQL, building on existing options from Ford, Tesla, Chevrolet, GMC, and Cadillac. Customers can now enroll through June 30, 2027, with residential incentives of $2,500 upfront, or $3,000 for those in disadvantaged communities, plus a $1,500 Early Adopter Incentive for the first 250 enrollees. Newly eligible vehicle and charger combinations qualify for up to $13,000 in additional incentives through California Energy Commission grant funding. PG&E has also advanced V2X solutions for commercial and fleet customers, including work with school districts in Fremont, Oakland, and San Francisco to support bidirectionally capable electric school bus fleets.

Hyundai Motor is considering expanding production capacity at its Georgia assembly plant from 500,000 vehicles annually to between 700,000 and 800,000 units by 2028, CEO José Muñoz told CNBC on Thursday. The South Korean automaker said following publication of the interview that the plans are under consideration but not yet confirmed. At the upper end of that range, the Georgia Metaplant would leapfrog rivals including Tesla and Toyota Motor to claim the top spot among U.S. vehicle assembly plants measured by capacity. Muñoz said President Donald Trump's tariffs, including a 15% levy on imports from South Korea, have accelerated the company's localization plans. Any such expansion would be funded through Hyundai's already-announced $26 billion U.S. investment commitment running to 2028. Hyundai has targeted a domestic production share of at least 80% of the vehicles it moves in the U.S. market by 2030, compared with roughly 40% in 2024. The $7.6 billion Metaplant, which Hyundai first announced in 2022, is currently turning out the all-electric Ioniq 5 and Ioniq 9 models alongside the Kia Sportage hybrid. Under the existing 500,000-unit framework, the Georgia campus would employ upward of 8,500 people directly, with a further 6,900 positions supported at supplier facilities nearby. Hyundai is also evaluating additional investment for body-on-frame vehicles such as trucks and SUVs at a location separate from the Georgia plant, though Muñoz declined to provide further details.

Kia America reported July 2026 sales of 75,857 vehicles, a 7 percent increase from the same month last year. Sales through Kia retailers grew 8 percent year-over-year. Through the first seven months of 2026, Kia sold a total of 506,584 units, a 4 percent gain over the same period in 2025.

Kia Corporation reported a 2.3% rise in net profits to KRW 2,327.8 trillion for the second quarter of 2026, up from KRW 2,268.2 trillion a year earlier. Operating profits fell 4.9% to KRW 2,628.5 trillion, while global sales revenues rose 12.6% to a record KRW 33,037.0 trillion. Global wholesale deliveries increased 4.5% to 851,639 vehicles, with electrified vehicle sales jumping 60% to 296,000 units, accounting for 35% of total sales. The company expects solid second-half results to meet its full-year target of 3.35 million global vehicle sales, supported by new model launches and sustained demand for battery electric and hybrid vehicles.

The 2027 Kia Telluride has been named one of Newsweek's Best New SUVs in its 2026 Readers' Choice Awards. The honor was determined through a four-week public voting period in which Newsweek readers selected vehicles that stood out for quality, performance, and overall ownership experience. Russell Wager, vice president of marketing at Kia America, said the recognition validates that the second-generation Telluride has raised the benchmark set by the first generation. The all-new 2027 Telluride features bold new styling, a more spacious and refined interior, advanced driver assistance and connected technologies, and an available turbo-hybrid powertrain.

Kia delivered 49,382 units in May 2026, achieving 14.9% growth and becoming Europe's fastest-growing top-10 automotive brand. The overall European market grew by just 3.6% in the same period, according to data from the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association. Kia's Europe-wide market share rose from 3.9% to 4.3%, while its EU-only share increased from 3.6% to 4.1%. Electrified powertrains drove the performance, with battery-electric vehicle sales reaching 15,443 units, led by the EV3 at 4,770 units. Across all electrified powertrains, Kia sold 30,995 units, with the Sportage HEV leading hybrids at 6,869 units.

Kia has unveiled the refreshed 2027 Niro hybrid crossover, featuring updated styling, expanded technology, and a continued focus on hybrid power. The exterior adopts a bolder look with redesigned front and rear fascias and Star Map lighting signatures, while the interior gains a new panoramic curved display with a standard 12.3-inch infotainment screen and an available 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. Newly available driver assistance technologies include Highway Drive Assist 2 and Forward Collision Avoidance 2, and the available Kia Connected Car Navigation Cockpit supports over-the-air updates. The 2027 Niro is offered exclusively as a hybrid, pairing a 1.6-liter engine with an electric motor for a combined 139 horsepower, and the lineup adds a new S trim alongside LX, EX, and SX models. It is expected to go on sale this summer.

Kia America reported its best-ever June and first-half sales in the U.S. market, with June sales reaching 70,507 units, a 10 percent increase year-over-year, and first-half sales totaling 430,727 units, up 3 percent. The record performance was driven by strong demand for hybrid and electrified models, with hybrid sales surging 187 percent in June and 115 percent in the first half. Key models such as the Sportage hybrid, Seltos, Telluride, and Carnival achieved their best-ever June sales. The company expects momentum to continue with the full-scale launch of the all-new Seltos in July and the expansion of its hybrid lineup.

Kia Corp. sales climbed more than 4% from January to May even as global auto demand fell about 5%, pushing its global market share above 4%. Chief Executive Officer Song Ho-sung said at the Busan Mobility Show that surging gasoline prices during the Iran war are lifting demand for electric vehicles in Europe and hybrids in the US. In Europe, Kia's sales jumped more than 10% in May, supported by a broader rollout of mass-market EV models. In the US, Kia is expanding hybrid models, including the Telluride large SUV, and targeting eight hybrid models by 2030. Kia is also positioning specialized commercial fleets as a next growth driver through software-defined, modular purpose-built vehicles, planning to roll out the PV5, PV7 and PV9 platforms in phases with more than 40 localized commercial variants.

The 2026 Kia Carnival and K4 have been named segment winners in the JD Power 2026 U.S. Initial Quality Study, with the Carnival topping the Minivan segment and the K4 leading the Compact Car segment. The K4 also ranked as the second highest model in initial quality across the entire industry. Additionally, the Kia Mexico manufacturing plant in Nuevo Leon, Mexico, where the K4 is produced, received the Gold Plant Quality Award for the highest initial quality in North and South America. The awards reflect the fewest quality issues reported during the first 90 days of ownership, and come as both models have posted record-breaking sales in recent months.