Brandwave

BMW vs Kia:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, BMW had more branded searches than Kia among electric car brands worldwide. BMW had about 9.1 million branded searches, while Kia had 5 million. BMW made up 17.7% of all electric car brand searches we track, and Kia accounted for 9.7%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about electric car brands, Kia appeared in all five answers and BMW in two. Kia was mentioned before BMW in every answer.

Among electric car brands worldwide in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

BMW, about 83% more searches than Kia

BMW 9.1M searchesKia 5M searches

Who does AI mention more?

Kia, mentioned in every answer we collected

Kia in 5 of 5BMW in 2 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Kia, named ahead of BMW in every answer

Kia first in 5BMW never first

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Top electric car brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Kia appeared in all five answers. BMW was mentioned in two out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Kia was listed before BMW in every answer.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. Tesla1st
  2. Kia2nd
  3. Hyundai3rd
  4. Rivian4th
  5. BMW5th
  6. Polestar6th
  7. Nissan7th
  8. Lucid Motors8th
  9. Volkswagen–
  10. BYD–

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • Tesla5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Kia5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Hyundai4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Rivian3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • BMW2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Nissan1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Polestar1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Lucid Motors1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Volkswagen0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • BYD0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about electric car brands

5 answers

Not named in any answer:

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 19, 2026.

Is BMW or Kia more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for BMW and Kia by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all ten electric car brands we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.

BMW and Kia among electric car brands worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for BMW, Kia. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthBMWTeslaVolkswagenBYDHyundaiKiaNissanPolestarRivianLucid Motors
Oct 202520.5%16.9%16.9%11.3%13.8%9.3%7.6%1.5%1.5%0.58%
Nov 202518.8%15.4%18.8%12.6%15.4%8.4%6.9%1.7%1.7%0.52%
Dec 202519.8%16.2%19.8%10.8%13.3%8.9%7.3%1.5%1.8%0.67%
Jan 202620.6%13.9%16.9%13.9%13.9%9.3%7.6%1.9%1.5%0.73%
Feb 202618.8%15.4%18.8%12.6%12.6%10.3%6.9%2.1%2.1%0.64%
Mar 202620.6%13.9%17%13.9%13.9%9.3%7.6%1.5%1.9%0.58%
Apr 202617.7%17.7%17.7%14.5%11.8%9.7%6.5%1.9%1.9%0.6%
May 202618.3%15%18.3%15%12.2%10%6.7%2%2%0.62%
Jun 202619.8%16.2%16.2%13.3%13.3%8.9%7.3%2.2%2.2%0.6%
Jul 202619.1%15.7%19.1%12.8%12.8%8.6%7%2.1%2.1%0.63%
Aug 202618.9%15.4%18.9%12.6%12.6%10.3%6.9%1.7%2.1%0.6%
Sep 202617.7%17.7%17.7%14.5%11.9%9.7%6.5%1.9%1.9%0.49%

How has the BMW and Kia comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • BMW was ahead of Kia in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, BMW’s share of searches among electric car brands worldwide moved from 20.5% to 17.7%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 11.1M to 9.1M.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Kia’s share of searches among electric car brands worldwide moved from 9.3% to 9.7%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 5M.

How did search popularity change for electric car brands worldwide in September 2026?

2 changes

  1. In September 2026, BMW lost share of searches among electric car brands worldwide, from 18.9% to 17.7%.

  2. In September 2026, Kia lost share of searches among electric car brands worldwide, from 10.3% to 9.7%.

How are branded searches counted?

2 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using BMW’s and Kia’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.

BMW

1 branded search term

  • bmw

Kia

1 branded search term

  • kia

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among electric car brands

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