Ioniq 6 Expected to Enter Mass Production as Early as March-April Next Year
[Asia Economy Reporter Changhwan Lee] Hyundai Motor Company will carry out production facility replacement work at its Asan plant from the 31st of this month until early February next year to mass-produce the next-generation electric vehicle, Ioniq 6. Hyundai is expected to start producing the Ioniq 6 as early as March to April next year once the Asan plant line maintenance is completed.
According to related industries on the 7th, Hyundai’s Asan plant plans to shut down from the end of this month until early February next year. This shutdown is to replace some production lines so that electric vehicles can be produced on the existing Grandeur and Sonata production lines.
Hyundai plans to install the E-GMP (Electric-Global Modular Platform) system, an electric vehicle dedicated platform, at the Asan plant. Electric vehicles produced on the E-GMP platform have superior performance in various aspects such as space efficiency, charging capabilities, and design compared to electric vehicles produced on existing internal combustion engine platforms.
Because it is a modular integrated platform, it has the advantage of quickly expanding the lineup and simplifying the manufacturing process to increase production efficiency.
Once the electric vehicle facilities are equipped at the Asan plant, the Ioniq 6 will be mass-produced. The Ioniq 6 is Hyundai’s second dedicated electric vehicle following the Ioniq 5. It is a sedan-type vehicle like the Sonata or Grandeur, and Hyundai is expected to begin mass production preparations as soon as the electric vehicle production facility construction at the Asan plant is completed in early February next year.
After trial operations, mass production could be possible as early as March to April next year. Hyundai completed the first phase of facility replacement at the Asan plant in July to establish the electric vehicle production line, and this is the second and final phase. The launch is expected in the first half of next year.
Previously, Hyundai unveiled the concept car ‘Prophecy,’ the concept for the Ioniq 6, at several motor shows such as the 2021 Seoul Mobility Show and the Beijing Motor Show.
Prophecy’s design features an aerodynamic design with a flowing, elegant silhouette. It is highly regarded as a well-executed embodiment of Hyundai’s design philosophy, Sensuous Sportiness (adding emotion to sportiness).
The Ioniq 6, based on the Prophecy, will be equipped with a 73 kWh battery capacity, expected to travel over 483 km on a single charge. Through an 800V charging system, it can be rapidly charged to 80% within 18 minutes. Based on the interior design revealed so far for the Prophecy, it is presumed to have an interior space similar to or larger than the previous model, the Ioniq 5.
An industry insider said, “As consumer interest in electric vehicles has recently increased significantly, Hyundai is also preparing to quickly launch follow-up electric vehicles,” adding, “The Ioniq 6 is expected to enter mass production as soon as the Asan plant facility modification is completed.”
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
