Hyundai Coasts Into Another EV Sales Increase While Tesla Stalls

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Last Updated on: 2nd April 2025, 11:24 am

Add Hyundai to the list of US automakers enjoying a healthy increase EV sales for Q1 2025, despite — or perhaps because of — the brittle state of federal support for the US auto industry. It remains to be seen what will happen when the Q2 numbers roll in. Meanwhile, Hyundai is taking the opportunity to celebrate the female members of its leadership team alongside its EV sales record.

Oh the irony, it burns. Here’s Hyundai celebrating female leadership while Tesla CEO Elon Musk, the richest man in the world, spends millions in a failed attempt buy votes away from Susan Crawford, a working lawyer and judge running for a seat on the Wisconsin State Supreme Court. Yes, she won. Handily. By a 10-point margin in a state Trump won in 2024. Just saying.

Hyundai Celebrates Women Leaders Alongside EV Sales

Before we get to Hyundai’s Q1 EV sales let’s take a quick look at what the company has to say about its C-suite women. The company’s celebration of gender diversity record alongside its EV sales is particularly significant at this time, as the Trump team continues to bring the axe down on federal DEI (diversity, equity, inclusion) programs while also threatening private sector companies into dropping their DEI initiatives as well.

“Three Hyundai executives, Claudia Márquez, Olabisi Boyle, and Kate Fabian have been named 2025 Trailblazing Women in Automotive by Reuters, a prestigious recognition honoring twenty outstanding global females who are leaders in the highly competitive automotive industry,” Hyundai enthused in a press release dated April 1, in which it also recapped its US sales record for Q1 2025.

“This marks the first time three women from one company have received the honor in the same year, underscoring Hyundai’s commitment to cultivating impactful leaders,” Hyundai emphasized.

Hyundai previously celebrated the three executives in a separate press release dated March 10, stating that their “leadership has strengthened Hyundai’s position as a global mobility leader, setting new benchmarks in electrification, sustainability, and digitalization.”

Hyundai Crushed EV Sales In March

Hyundai also had a lot to celebrate in terms of overall sales for Q1 in the US, particularly as the quarter closed out in the month of March. That bodes well for the company’s ability to transfer brand loyalty from ICE vehicles to EVs in the coming years, though as noted above that could depend on the state of federal policy during the Trump administration.

“This was the best March in Hyundai’s history, a record sixth consecutive month setting best-ever total sales,” Hyundai reported. Total March sales in the US added up to 87,019 units, 13% more than the same month in 2024.

Collectively, Hyundai’s lineup of hybrids and BEVs fared particularly well in March. “March total sales of hybrid electric vehicles jumped 72%, while total electrified sales grew by 38%,” the company enthused, taking particular note of a 17% jump for the IONIQ 5.

“Hyundai electrified vehicle sales of 20,885 represented 26% of retail sales and a 44% year-over-year increase,” the company added.

A Big Step For Total EV Sales, A Smaller Step For BEVs

For all three months in Q1 the collective electrification totals were also impressive. “Electrified total sales were up 38% with hybrid-electric total sales jumping 68%,” Hyundai reported. The Q1 figure for pure EV sales growth was less impressive but still substantial at a 3% increase for the quarter.

The IONIQ 5 overperformed, setting a new Q1 sales record for itself. The vehicle topped its 2024 figure by a healthy 26% and racked up a Q1 2025 total of 8,611 units (see more IONIQ 5 background here).

The award-winning IONIQ 6 is still a work in progress, with Q1 sales falling 9% from 2024. By way of comparison, though, Hyundai had worse bad luck selling its ICE Santa Cruz pickup truck, which suffered a sales drop of 21% compared to 2024.

Sales of the KONA SUV were also running far behind the IONIQ 5. The vehicle, which comes in ICE, hybrid and BEV variants, landed at 17,018 units for the quarter, down 26% from 2024.

Rounding out the zero emission lineup is the ill-fated NEXO hydrogen fuel cell electric car. Having sold zero units this quarter and 51 last year, Hyundai recorded a 100% drop in sales for the NEXO.

How To Sell More EVs In The US

With Tesla sales going down, down, and downer in the US and other key markets, other US automakers have a golden opportunity to pump up their EV sales records, and they are. In addition to Hyundai, GM and Ford also did the happy dance over their Q1 EV sales figures, which they announced on April 1.

Still, EVs do not sell themselves. In its April 1 press release, Hyundai indicated that safety will be a factor in its sales pitch for the IONIQ 5 and IONIQ 6. Both of the 2025 models earned the highest safety rating from the organization Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Improving access to public EV charging stations is also on the menu. Beginning on April 7, Hyundai will start reaching out to current owners of the electric KONA and certain IONIQ models that have a Combined Charging System, to let them know they can get a complimentary NACS adapter. The offer, which applies to owners who bought their car on or before January 1 of this year, opens up access to 20,000 Tesla Superchargers dotting the US landscape.

In terms of boosting EV sales, home charging stations are also part of the plan. By an overwhelming majority, EV drivers prefer to recharge at home. Accordingly, Hyundai is expanding its complimentary home charger and charging credit offers to cover the 2025 IONIQ 6, 2024 IONIQ 6, and 2024 IONIQ 5.

When Can We Get An INSTER?

As a serial Hyundai Accent owner (three so far), my ears pricked up when I heard about Hyundai’s latest electric compact, the INSTER. It was unveiled at the 2024 Busan International Mobility Show last June.

If anything could tease me out of my Accents, that would be the INSTER. The maneuverable, built for city driving compact doubles as a load-hauler. Hyundai suggests loading it up with an e-bike or e-scooter, enabling drivers to park outside of congested areas, switch to a two-wheeler, and scoot on through. The vehicle also sports bidirectional charging, in case the two-wheeler needs some extra juice.

Hyundai shared the INSTER unveil with CleanTechnica by email in June, noting that “INSTER will launch first in Korea this summer, followed by Europe, the Middle East, and Asia Pacific in due course.”

Boo! I checked in with Hyundai and they confirmed there were no plans to bring the INSTER to the US. That was nine months ago, though. Maybe things have changed since then? In its April 1 press release, Hyundai made a point of noting that the INSTER made it to the Top 3 Finalist slot at the 2025 World Car Awards, suggesting a tease for its US audience.

Meanwhile, Hyundai has also been priming the pump for its new “INSTEROID” EV, with the “steroid” part of the name being on purpose. That’s not a particularly female-friendly choice as it stands, but perhaps Hyundai has spotted another EV sales opportunity. Stay tuned for an official unveiling later this month.

Photo: Hyundai racked up another increase in EV sales for Q1 2025 in the US, lead by its popular IONIQ 5 electric compact crossover SUV (courtesy of Hyundai).