Gasgoo Munich- On Oct. 25, citing Yonhap News Agency, that Hyundai and Kia combined retail sales in China totaled roughly 9,000 units in September. That marks a 39% year-on-year plunge — the first time monthly sales have dipped below 10,000 this year — sending their combined market share down to 0.6%.
Hanwha Securities derived its figures from retail data by the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA). By brand, Hyundai sold about 4,000 units — a 47% decline — while Kia sold roughly 5,000 units, slipping 31%.
Image source: Kia
The two automakers have now posted year-on-year declines for eight straight months. Cumulative sales for the first nine months reached 115,000 units, down 22% from the same period last year.
The 0.6% figure represents a new low for the pair's presence in China. Back in 2016, Hyundai and Kia sold nearly 1.8 million vehicles combined, commanding more than a 10% market share. Over the past decade, their annual sales volume has shrunk to less than one-fifteenth of that peak.
A product gap is the primary cause. Beijing Hyundai and Yueda Kia still rely heavily on internal combustion engine models, while their rollout of pure electric vehicles lags behind domestic rivals. CPCA data shows that retail penetration of new energy passenger cars in China exceeded 60% in September, meaning the ICE market base continues to contract.
The decline stands in stark contrast to the group's global performance. Hyundai Motor Group remained the world's third-largest automaker by sales in the first half of 2026, with growth continuing in India and the Americas. The loss of ground in China has not shifted its global ranking.
The situation of Korean automakers reflects a widening split within the joint venture camp. German and Japanese brands are holding onto share by leveraging electrification and local R&D, while French and Korean players continue to be marginalized. Earlier weekly data from the CPCA indicates that year-on-year retail declines for mainstream joint ventures still outpace those of domestic brands.
