The Korean automaker duo of Hyundai and Kia just made some painful decisions about their electric vehicle lineups in the United States. Hyundai confirmed it’s pulling the standard Ioniq 6 electric sedan from the U.S. market after the 2025 model year, while Kia has shelved its EV6 GT, EV9 GT, and two upcoming small EVs indefinitely. The common thread? A 25% import tariff on South Korean vehicles and plummeting EV demand following the end of the $7,500 federal tax credit.
- The updated 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 6 won’t be coming to the U.S., and only the high-performance Ioniq 6 N will be available in limited quantities.
- Kia confirmed that the 2026 EV6 GT will not be available in the U.S. for the time being, delayed until further notice due to changing market conditions.
- Kia has also delayed its entry-level EV4 electric sedan and compact EV3 electric SUV until further notice.
Why Hyundai Pulled the Plug on the Ioniq 6
Hyundai is discontinuing the regular Ioniq 6 sedan in the U.S. for the 2026 model year. A refreshed 2026 Ioniq 6 is currently on sale in some global markets, but its future in the U.S. was in question due to disappointing sales and tariff considerations.
While other Hyundai EVs are built in the U.S., the Ioniq 6 is assembled in South Korea. That makes it a direct target for the 25% import tariff, which adds thousands of dollars to each car before it even reaches a dealer lot. The Trump administration’s 25% tariff on imported vehicles affects the Ioniq 6, hurting Hyundai’s bottom line on the EV.
And the sales picture hasn’t helped either. Last year, Hyundai sold 10,478 Ioniq 6 sedans, a 15% decrease compared to 2024. So far in 2026, Hyundai has sold just 563 Ioniq 6 sedans, which is a 70% decrease from the same period last year. The svelte sedan was a hit among electric vehicle enthusiasts and design aficionados, but it never sold as well as its crossover sibling, the Ioniq 5.
Hyundai produces the Ioniq 5 and the recently introduced Ioniq 9 electric SUVs at its plant near Savannah in the state of Georgia. Those models avoid the tariff entirely, which is why they’ll stick around. The Ioniq 6 will remain on sale in other markets, including Canada, where Hyundai confirmed the refreshed version will arrive as a 2027 model.
The Ioniq 6 N Gets a Pass, Barely
Hyundai will still get the high-performance Ioniq 6 N in “limited quantities,” but the non-N models won’t be offered Stateside anymore. If and when it shows up at U.S. dealers, the 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 6 N will offer 641 horsepower and 568 pound-feet of torque, courtesy of an upgraded dual-motor powertrain.
Reports indicate the hotter variant will arrive later this year and may carry a price tag near $70,000 when it reaches showrooms. Limiting the lineup to the more expensive, lower-volume Ioniq 6 N makes it easier for Hyundai to absorb those additional costs. Think of it as the Volkswagen Golf strategy: drop the everyday version, keep the performance trim where higher margins can soak up tariff costs.
Kia’s Growing List of Delayed and Shelved EVs
Kia has its own pile of bad news. Kia manufactures most EV6 variants at its plant in West Point, Georgia, but the range-topping EV6 GT is built in South Korea and is subject to 25% tariffs. That math turns a $65,295 car into a tough sell.
Sales of the Kia EV6 as a whole have been rough after the $7,500 federal tax credit went out the window late last year. In this year’s first two months, Kia sold just 1,140 EV6s in the U.S., less than half compared to the same period last year.
The EV6 GT and EV9 GT aren’t the only vehicles that Kia has delayed. The automaker also delayed the upcoming EV4 indefinitely. There’s some confusion about the fate of the EV3, as it was supposed to go on sale this year, but the automaker has been quiet since the EV3’s reveal in May 2024. Both the EV3 and EV4 are built in South Korea, which puts them squarely in the tariff crosshairs.
If you’re a fan of Korean sedans but aren’t ready for an EV, the K5 remains a strong gas-powered option. The 2026 Kia K5 offers available turbocharged power and torque-vectoring AWD. It’s one of the few midsize sedans still thriving at a time when electric alternatives are getting harder to find.
A Tougher Road Ahead for EV Shoppers
The Ioniq 6 will join a wave of EV cancellations in the U.S. this year, a long list that includes the Acura ZDX, Ford F-150 Lightning, Volkswagen ID. Buzz, and the Mercedes EQS and EQE. It remains unclear if the EV6 GT or the regular Ioniq 6 will return to U.S. showrooms for the 2027 model year, as most automakers delaying EVs due to tariffs have done so indefinitely.
For now, if you’re looking for an electric vehicle, Hyundai and Kia are still among the most affordable options. The Ioniq 5, Ioniq 9, and standard EV6 trims are all still on sale with U.S. assembly protecting them from tariff pricing. U.S. buyers who want a conventional Hyundai Ioniq 6 will need to act quickly while the remaining 2025 inventory lasts. Once those are gone, the days of the affordable Korean electric sedan in America may be over for a while.
