Hyundai and Kia are gaining ground in the US market as gasoline prices above $4 per gallon drive buyers toward hybrid vehicles, which combine gasoline engines with electric motors. Hyundai said hybrid sales rose 39% in the third quarter, while Kia's increased 152%. Toyota reported a 29% gain and Honda a 21% increase. The shift helped Hyundai and Kia nearly overtake Ford, with combined third-quarter sales of 506,200 vehicles versus Ford's 509,764. Pure electric vehicle (EV) sales have weakened as prices remain higher and a $7,500 federal tax credit ended last September; Tesla's third-quarter sales fell 2% from a year earlier. Asian automakers accounted for more than half of new-car sales during the quarter, while US companies posted a record-low share, according to Cox Automotive. Analysts say Detroit's limited hybrid offerings could cost it customers, even as Ford and General Motors plan additional models. The results came days after the Trump administration announced less stringent fuel-efficiency requirements, which 26 states led by California challenged in court on Friday.