Kona Electric Surpasses 100,000 Units in Cumulative Sales in Europe

Domestic Ioniq 5 Sales Halted After Launch... Still 'Ssing Ssing' Overseas

[Asia Economy Reporter Yu Je-hoon] Hyundai Motor's electric vehicle 'Kona Electric' has surpassed cumulative sales of 100,000 units just three years after entering the European market.

Hyundai Motor Europe (HME) announced on the 22nd (local time) that since its launch in 2018, the sales of Kona Electric have exceeded 100,000 units. This accounts for one-quarter of the total Kona sales in Europe, including internal combustion engine models.

Europe, along with the United States and China, is one of the world's three largest automobile markets and one of the fastest-growing regions for eco-friendly vehicles. In the first half of this year, new electric vehicle registrations in key European markets reached approximately 336,000 units, an increase of about 147% compared to the same period last year. The industry expects the total European electric vehicle market to reach 1 million units by the end of this year.

Although sales of the Kona Electric have been temporarily suspended domestically due to the launch of the first dedicated electric vehicle Ioniq 5, it still plays a significant role in Hyundai's eco-friendly vehicle lineup in overseas markets such as Europe. Since last year, to meet the growing demand for eco-friendly vehicles in Europe, production has been expanded from Hyundai's Ulsan plant to include the Czech plant (HMMC).

In particular, the Kona Electric attracted consumer attention as Europe’s first compact electric sport utility vehicle (SUV). Sold in two battery versions?39.2 kWh (maximum driving range 305 km) and 64 kWh (484 km)?the Kona Electric boasts outstanding performance, including a test drive at the German racing circuit EuroSpeedway Lausitz, where it traveled 1,026 km on a single charge.

The market has also responded positively. Last year, it received the highest rating of five stars in the European Green NCAP test, and earlier this year, it was selected as the number one 'Family Electric SUV' by the UK automotive magazine Autocar.

Hyundai plans to continue infrastructure development and introduce new models to meet the expanding eco-friendly vehicle market in Europe. Last year, it invested in IONITY, a European electric vehicle charging network, and launched the first dedicated electric vehicle model, the Ioniq 5, in the European market. The Ioniq 5 has been performing well, surpassing 10,000 units sold within three months of its launch.

Additionally, Hyundai aims to introduce 12 electric vehicle models by 2025, starting with the Ioniq 5, targeting annual sales of 560,000 units. By 2035, Hyundai plans to electrify its entire lineup in Europe.

Andreas-Christoph Hofmann, Vice President of Product and Marketing at HME, said, "Since its launch in 2018, the Kona Electric has gained popularity in Europe beyond expectations. Selling 100,000 units in Europe is a significant milestone," adding, "We will continue to launch electric models tailored to the diverse lifestyles of customers over the coming years."