Small cars, hybrids and crossovers lifted South Korea's Hyundai-Kia group to a narrow 0.7 percent U.S. sales increase in October, a result that was weighed down by fewer fleet sales and the continuing decline of the Genesis luxury brand.
The three brands combined to sell 98,127 vehicles.
The Hyundai brand's 2.8 percent gain was driven by its top seller, the Elantra compact car, and by fresh crossovers, including the recently updated Tucson. The new Kona finished October with 4,330 units, keeping up September's pace. Kia's growth was led by its small cars and its Niro hybrid crossover.
Genesis, a three-car brand in a truck-dominated market, was no help, selling just 372 vehicles in October, despite the addition of the G70 sport sedan, Hyundai's putative answer to the BMW 3 series.
Brands: Hyundai up 2.8%; Genesis down 79%; Kia up 1.6%. For the year, Hyundai is off 0.4%, Genesis is down 45% and Kia is down 1%.
Notable nameplates: Hyundai Tucson up 32%; Elantra up 24%; Ioniq up 25%; Genesis G80 down 85%; Kia Rio up 45%; Niro up 12%; Sportage up 11%. Cadenza down 80%; Soul down 14%.
Incentives: $2,772 per vehicle for Hyundai, including Genesis, down 7.7% from a year earlier, according to ALG; Kia up 0.2% to $3,646.
Average transaction price: Hyundai slipped 1.9% from a year earlier to $22,484, including Genesis, according to ALG; Kia rose 3.3% to $22,589.
Fleet: Hyundai said fleet sales were down 22% from a year earlier and retail sales were up 8%.
Quote: "Our refreshed lineup is successfully driving retail results" in the second half of the year, said John Angevine, director of national sales for Hyundai Motor America.
Did you know? The group's all-electrified nameplates -- Hyundai's Ioniq and Kia's Niro -- are up 16% for the year.
