The latest US vehicle sales figures reveal a sharply divided market, with several mainstream brands posting strong results while some electric models experienced dramatic declines.
Car and Driver reports that Kia recorded a third quarter sales record of more than 236,000 vehicles, an increase of around 8 percent from a year earlier.
Hyundai also increased sales, helped by continued demand for models including the Tucson.
Some individual vehicles posted even larger gains. Ram 1500 sales jumped sharply, while the BMW 3 Series also recorded strong growth.
The picture was much weaker for several electric vehicles.
Sales of some electric models from Chevrolet, Ford, Hyundai, Kia and Jeep fell significantly compared with the same period last year.
That does not mean consumers are abandoning electric vehicles entirely, but it shows how quickly preferences can shift between brands and models.
The figures also underline the continued strength of SUVs, pickups and established combustion models in the American market.
Automakers will now be watching whether these trends continue through the crucial final quarter of 2026.
