GM and Kia report strong third quarter EV sales

General Motors and Kia released their third-quarter sales reports today, and both automakers reported strong gains in EV sales. Among GM brands, total EV deliveries for the quarter just ended were 32,095 vehicles. That number is up 60% from the third quarter of 2023 and up 46% from the second quarter of this year. Overall, the U.S. auto industry saw EV sales reach 8-9% of total deliveries up from 7.4% in Q2.

Over the next three months, Cadillac is preparing to launch two more EVs, including the full-size 2025 Escalade IQ and the 2025 Optiq, a compact crossover SUV. “GM’s EV portfolio is growing faster than the market because we have an ​all-electric vehicle for just about everybody, no matter what they like to drive,” said Rory Harvey, GM executive vice president and president of Global Markets.

Kia reports EV growth

Kia America closed September with sales of 58,913 units led by the brand’s broad lineup of all-electric (EV) and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) vehicles. Kia’s EV and PHEV sales are up 43% and 11% respectively compared to the same period last year. Electrified vehicles made up 17% of Kia’s total sales.

“Sales of Kia’s electrified offerings continued to grow despite the industry-wide softening in growth for all-electric models,” said Eric Watson, vice president, sales operations, Kia America.

In addition to the sales report, Kia America announced that the company will soon offer Tesla-style North American Charging Standard (NACS) adapters for the EV6 and EV9 vehicles. Customers who take delivery of a new 2024 or 2025 Kia EV9 or 2024 Kia EV6 will receive an adapter free of charge that will allow them access to more than 16,500 NACS DC fast chargers. Customer delivery of the free adapters is anticipated to take place in early 2025. Kia EV6, EV9 and Niro EV customers who took delivery prior to Sept. 4, 2024, will have the opportunity to purchase an adapter from an authorized Kia dealer at a later date. Access to the DC fast chargers is planned for Jan. 15, 2025.