Seoul, June 14 (IANS) Hyundai Motor Group accounted for 11.8 per cent of the US automobile market in the January-April period this year, data showed on Sunday, on the back of strong sales of hybrids and other eco-friendly models.

According to data compiled by industry tracker Omdia, the combined market share of Hyundai Motor Co. and Kia Corp. rose 1 percentage point from a year earlier during the first four months of 2026, ranking fourth behind General Motors Co., Toyota Motor Corp. and Ford Motor Co.

The combined sales moved up 1.3 percent over the period to 589,936, reports Yonhap news agency.

For all of 2025, Hyundai Motor Group posted a record market share of 11.3 percent in the U.S. market, with industry watchers expressing optimism that the South Korean automotive giant could break the 12 percent threshold this year.

Industry watchers said Hyundai Motor Group appears to have expanded its market share on the back of strong sales of hybrid and other eco-friendly models amid weakening demand for conventional vehicles following global oil price hikes.

“Through our powertrain strategy encompassing our entire eco-friendly lineup, we are addressing market demand in a flexible manner,” a Hyundai Motor official said.

Meanwhile, Nvidia and Hyundai Motor Group discussed future mobility technologies and artificial intelligence (AI) cooperation on Monday as the two companies seek to expand their partnership in emerging technologies.

“I am very excited to partner with Hyundai across all areas of AI, from mobility to robotics and AI factories,” Nvidia Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Jensen Huang told reporters after a meeting with Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Euisun Chung at the automaker’s headquarters in southern Seoul.

Huang highlighted mobility and physical AI as the next major wave of AI development, saying he and Chung discussed ways to expand autonomous mobility technologies and improve safety.

In response, Chung described Nvidia as an “indispensable” partner and said the U.S. chipmaker is one of Hyundai Motor Group’s most important collaborators.

—IANS

na/