Ioniq 6, Successor to Ioniq 5, Scheduled for Production at Asan Plant
To Be Released as a Sedan-Only Electric Vehicle
[Asia Economy Reporter Changhwan Lee] Hyundai Motor Company is understood to plan to produce the Ioniq 6, the successor model to the dedicated electric vehicle Ioniq 5, at its Asan plant in Chungnam. The Ioniq 6 is expected to be Hyundai's first dedicated electric sedan.
According to Asan City and the automotive industry on the 1st, Hyundai is internally discussing suspending operations at the Asan plant for about 30 days, including vacation periods, in July and August. It is also known that paid leave will be implemented for a certain period in November.
This suspension is to introduce a new dedicated electric vehicle process to the Grandeur and Sonata lines produced at the Asan plant. Until now, the Asan plant has mainly produced the Grandeur and Sonata, but it will now also produce dedicated electric vehicles. Rather than expanding the line, it is expected that the existing production line will be partially adjusted to enable the production of dedicated electric vehicles.
The electric vehicle scheduled for mass production at the Asan plant is the Ioniq 6, the successor model to the Ioniq 5. The Ioniq 6, launched as the successor to Hyundai's first dedicated electric vehicle Ioniq 5, will be released as a 4-door coupe-style sedan.
Hyundai Motor's North American branch revealed the specifications of the Ioniq 6 during a media briefing for the Ioniq 5 held locally on the 24th of last month. According to the information disclosed at that time, the Ioniq 6 is a mid-size sedan comparable to the Sonata, with a significantly different exterior from the RV (recreational vehicle) style Ioniq 5.
The Ioniq 6 will be equipped with a 73kWh battery pack and two powertrains. It is planned to be released with an output of 215 horsepower from a 160kW single motor and 308 horsepower from a 230kW dual motor. The driving range is expected to be significantly improved to over 300 miles (483 km) compared to the Ioniq 5. The production line will be set up in Asan this year, with full-scale mass production expected in the second half of next year or the year after.
Hyundai plans to release the Ioniq 7 following the Ioniq 6. The Ioniq 7 will be released in an SUV (sports utility vehicle) form, but the production plant and release schedule have not yet been decided.
In the automotive industry, it is anticipated that Hyundai will also launch dedicated electric vehicles at its U.S. plants. On the 13th of last month, Hyundai announced an investment of about 8 trillion won in the U.S. to expand electric vehicle production and production facilities. It is highly likely that electric vehicle production lines will be established at U.S. plants to produce dedicated electric vehicles such as the Ioniq 6 and Ioniq 7.
Hyundai stated that while it is true that internal discussions are ongoing regarding the suspension of operations at the Asan plant and the production of dedicated electric vehicles, nothing has been finalized yet, and it will take time to finalize through labor-management consultations and other processes.
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