Sales of battery EVs (BEVs) might be slowing down in the USA, with consulting firm J.D. Power slashing its market share forecast for this year from 12% to 9%. Kia, however, didn’t get the memo. While Americans are buying fewer Teslas, they are snapping up Kia’s EV series in significant numbers.

In October, sales of Kia BEV models—including the Niro EV, EV6, and EV9—surged 70% year-on-year. The Kia EV9, the brand’s largest and most expensive BEV, has emerged as its most popular model, with 17,911 units sold from January to October this year. The Kia EV6 closely followed, selling 17,717 units.

In response to this strong demand, Kia plans to ramp up production at its American plant in Georgia next year, once it fulfills the requirements to qualify for a USD 7,500 tax credit. Trial production of locally manufactured Kia EV9s began in May, but output has remained low, with the majority of Kia EV9s sold in the USA still imported from Korea.

In Malaysia, the Kia EV9 was launched in May this year with a starting price of RM 369,668. Since then, 40 units have been registered as of November 2024.