Hyundai simply made its 100 millionth automobile, marking a big milestone. The accomplishment took simply 57 years, a lot faster than Toyota, Volkswagen, Ford, and GM. With long-range, fast-charging EVs rolling out, like the brand new IONIQ 5, Hyundai is laying the groundwork for a worldwide gross sales run.
Since 1967, Hyundai Motor has been trailblazing its personal path within the auto trade. After launching Korea’s first passenger automobile, the Pony, in 1967, Hyundai continued its innovation streak, with new releases just like the Sonata, Excel, and Elantra rolling out within the Nineteen Eighties and early 90s.
In 1991, Hyundai developed its first EV prototype, the Sonata (Y2) EV. The prototype planted the seeds for Hyundai’s devoted IONIQ model of electrical automobiles, which was born in 2020.
After launching its first automobile underneath the brand new model in 2021, the IONIQ 5, Hyundai’s midsize electrical SUV, has continued to climb the worldwide gross sales charts. Hyundai adopted it up with the IONIQ 6 “electrified streamliner,” which hit the market in 2022.
Hyundai’s devoted EVs helped it cross a significant milestone, as its 100 millionth automobile, an IONIQ 5, rolled off the manufacturing line on September 30, 2024.
Hyundai hits 100M automobile milestone within the new EV period
It took 57 years, which can seem to be a very long time, however Hyundai hit the edge a lot faster than different world auto leaders.
In response to trade sources (through The Korea Herald), it took Volkswagen, Toyota, Common Motors, and Ford practically 100 years to achieve the identical milestone.
Hyundai held a ceremony at its Ulsan Plant, the inspiration of its success, saying it’s a “central hub for electrification” with a devoted EV facility on-site.
“This auspicious event is simply step one towards the long run period of electrification that Hyundai Motor will lead,” Hyundai Motor’s head of home productions mentioned on the occasion. Hyundai pressured the achievement follows its steady progress with superior EVs (together with Kia and Genesis fashions) primarily based on its E-GMP platform.
Hyundai continues increasing its world footprint. Final yr, it opened a brand new robot-run good facility in Singapore, introducing new know-how to assist it lower prices and speed up manufacturing instances.
As early as subsequent month, Hyundai will open its huge new $7.6 billion Metaplant America in Georgia, the place it’s going to construct new EVs.
The primary automobile to roll off meeting is the up to date 2025 IONIQ 5, which options extra vary and a Tesla NACS port. Later this yr, Hyundai can even introduce its first three-row electrical SUV, the IONIQ 9.
In Korea, Europe, and different world markets, Hyundai’s low-cost Casper Electrical (Inster EV abroad) is rolling out.
With a beginning price ticket underneath $27,500 (25,000 euros), Hyundai’s small electrical SUV will probably be one of the inexpensive electrical vehicles available on the market because the Korean automaker appears to be like to hold its momentum into the EV period.
Electrek’s Take
With a number of the best, inexpensive electrical automobiles available on the market, Hyundai is already climbing the worldwide gross sales charts.
Within the second quarter, Hyundai Motor (together with Kia and Genesis) surpassed Ford and GM to develop into America’s second-best-selling EV model behind Tesla. The Korean automaker simply had its best-ever whole and retail US gross sales month in August, with practically 80,000 automobiles offered.
With US manufacturing kicking off and new fashions arriving, Hyundai is laying the inspiration to proceed gaining market share. In different world markets, Hyundai can be focusing on common segments with distinctive electrical vehicles.
To safe a management function, Hyundai is closely investing in batteries and different EV tech to chop prices and enhance effectivity. For instance, simply final week, Hyundai and Kia launched a brand new LFP battery mission to energy future lower-priced EVs.