Korean Automakers Kia and Hyundai are ramping up their dedication to electric vehicles.
While Hyundai intends to launch 11 brand new electric models before the end of the decade, Kia will sell 14 Evs in total by 2027. This includes plans for two electric pick-up trucks.
Both companies are already selling ground-up EVs. Hyundai has the Ionig 5 while Kia has the EV6. But these are just the beginning.
So let’s take a look at what they’ve both got planned.
Hyundai
Hyundai has vowed to release 11 EVs by 2030.
This consists of six SUVs, three sedans and one light commercial vehicle.
We already know that one of the three sedans will by the Ioniq 5’s successor – the Ioniq 6.
Apparently, this will look a bit like the brand’s concept car, the mysteriously named Prophecy, pictured below.
What’s more is that Hyundai plans for the Ioniq 6 to go on sale sometime this year – so we won’t have to wait too long for this slice of the future.
Then, just in time for 2024, one of the SUVs will hit the road. This too will take some inspiration from a concept car: the Ioniq 7.
Hyundai’s luxury arm Genesis will also be adding six new models to its range in the next eight years.
Two of these will be “passenger cars,” with Genesis not specifying whether that means that these will be sedans or not.
Four SUVs will also follow.
The first SUV will be the Electrified GV70 that’s set to launch this year.
Then, from 2025 onwards, every new Genesis will be completely electrified.
What is Kia up to?
Kia will be releasing two EVs a year until 2027. This will thus complete its line up of 14 EVs.
There will be two electric pickup trucks with Kia describing one as a “dedicated” EV pickup and one as a “strategic model for emerging markets”.
Both are interesting descriptions and the latter probably means that it won’t be for the American market.
Furthermore, Kia will also be launching an entry-level EV.
This will be separate from the EV9 which is still set for a 2023 release date.
The EV9 will be the first Kia to be equipped with the company’s AutoMode autonomous driving system, which Kia says will be available on all new models launched in major markets by 2026.
But that’s not all folks!
Kia plans to focus on its high end performance GT line-up, electrifying them too.
The brand also aims to become a market leader in purpose-built vehicles, starting with a model called the Niro Plus later this year.
Based on the new generation of the Nio SUV, it will most likely be tailored for the service industry, e.g. taxi and ride hailing services like Uber.
Anything Else I Should Know?
Hyundai says it is targeting global EV sales of nearly 1.9 million units annually by 2030 and a seven percent market share for EVs.
Kia says it is aiming for sales of 1.2 million EVs in 2030 and predicts 80 percent of its EV sales will come from Korea, China, Europe, and North America. EVs will then represent a 45 percent share of Kia sales in these regions.
Hyundai also says it will create an Integrated Modular Architecture as an evolution of the E-GMP platform.
In the process, this will standardize the battery systems and motors along with the chassis for future EVs.
