For Every Unit Sold in Korea, Nine Go Overseas... Tucson Surpasses 10.6 Million in Global Sales, Growth Continues

Over 10 Million Units Sold Since 2004 Launch
Third Hyundai Model to Surpass 10 Million, Following Avante and Accent
91% of Sales Overseas; U.S. Accounts for 20% of Total
Global Presence Strengthened by Expanding Local Production and U.S. Ma

Hyundai Motor Company’s sports utility vehicle (SUV), the Tucson, has surpassed a global cumulative sales milestone of 10.6 million units, 22 years after its initial launch. With overseas sales accounting for over 90%, growth has been driven by expansion in the U.S. market and local production. Hyundai Motor Company plans to continue global sales momentum by leveraging the recently revealed fifth-generation full-change model.

The All New Tucson Exterior. Hyundai Motor Company

Global Best-Selling Car, Tucson

According to Hyundai Motor Company’s IR data on September 30, cumulative global sales of the Tucson reached 10,616,102 units from the launch of the first-generation model in 2004 through August of this year, excluding China-exclusive models. Including 554,049 units sold of the China-exclusive ix35 model, total cumulative sales stand at 11,170,151 units. The Tucson is the third vehicle in the Hyundai Motor Group family to surpass the 10 million mark—after the Avante (Elantra) and Accent—and is the first Korean SUV to achieve this milestone.

The Tucson surpassed cumulative sales of 1 million units in 2008, 5 million units in 2016, and reached the 10 million mark last year. Among Hyundai Motor Company’s various models, the Tucson has ranked No. 1 in annual global wholesale sales for five consecutive years, from 2021 to 2025. Annual sales figures were 560,000 units in 2021, 620,000 in 2022, 690,000 in 2023, 640,000 in 2024, and 630,000 in 2025.

Sales volume has grown with generational changes and expanded production bases. As overseas production ramped up, annual sales increased from 317,932 units in 2010 to 512,553 units in 2012. Following the launch of the third-generation model in 2015, expanding output from overseas factories pushed annual sales to an all-time high of 735,173 in 2016.

In 2020, sales dropped to 466,663 units due to the impact of COVID-19. However, the company rebounded through expansion of overseas production and strengthening of its hybrid lineup. Sales in 2023 totaled 698,786 units. Cumulative sales by generation are approximately 1.62 million units for the first generation, about 2.5 million for the second, roughly 3.125 million for the third, and around 3.373 million for the fourth generation. Sales for the fourth generation cover the period from its 2020 debut through August this year—a span of about 6 years and 8 months.

The all-new Tucson interior. Hyundai Motor Company

91% Overseas Sales ... Expanding Local Production Share

The Tucson has evolved from an export-centric model to a global vehicle based on local production in key markets. The proportion of locally produced overseas units increased from 4.0% in 2005 to 44.2% in 2010, 73.1% in 2016, and 76.0% in 2023.

Cumulatively, 5,858,926 out of 9,663,073 overseas sales units were produced at local factories, resulting in a local production share of 60.6%. By establishing production bases in major markets such as the United States and Czechia, Hyundai Motor Company has secured the capacity to respond to local demand.

Domestic sales reached 953,029 units, accounting for 9.0% of global cumulative sales (excluding China). Overseas sales made up 91.0%. Including the China-exclusive model, Tucson’s overseas share rises to 91.4% of total cumulative sales.

The United States is the largest single market for the Tucson. From its entry into the U.S. market in 2004 through August of this year, total sales have reached 2,227,154 units—including 1,953,485 internal combustion models and 273,669 hybrid models. These figures represent 19.9% of total cumulative sales (including China-exclusive models) and 23.1% of all overseas sales.

The share of hybrid models sold in the U.S. has also risen. Since the introduction of the hybrid version with the fourth-generation model in 2021, the hybrid share rose from 12.3% in 2021 to 17.8% in 2022, 19.2% in 2023, and 32.5% in 2024. Last year, the figure was 31.0%, and as of August this year, it stands at 27.8%.

The All-New Tucson Exterior. Hyundai Motor Company

Safety Ratings & Global Awards... Market Expansion with the 5th Generation Model

The Tucson has consistently earned high marks from major safety evaluation agencies, including the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), and European New Car Assessment Programme (Euro NCAP). The second-generation Tucson was named a Top Safety Pick (TSP) by IIHS for four consecutive years beginning in 2010, while the third generation and beyond have received the higher Top Safety Pick Plus (TSP+) rating. The fourth generation maintained TSP+ status for five consecutive years from 2022 to 2026. In Euro NCAP testing, the second (2010), third (2015), and fourth (2021) generations all achieved the highest five-star rating.

Automotive media have also offered praise. U.S. News & World Report selected the Tucson as the “Best Family Compact SUV” for five consecutive years from 2022 to 2026. UK-based Top Gear named the fourth-generation model “Best Family Car” in 2022, and What Car? selected it as the “Best Used Family SUV” for 2025.

Hyundai Motor Company recently unveiled the fifth-generation full-change model (project code: NX5). The new Tucson embodies Hyundai’s “Art of Steel” design philosophy, shifting from the previous streamlined design to a boxy SUV style. The body size has been enlarged for improved interior space, and the latest connectivity features have been added. Following its launch in Korea, the new model will be introduced sequentially to major markets such as North America and Europe starting in 2027.

A Hyundai Motor Company official stated, “Over the past 22 years, the Tucson has evolved from an export-focused model to a global strategic vehicle based on local production. Going forward, we will continue to drive sales in global markets by leveraging the Tucson’s competitive edge.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.