In the race to gain EV market share, South Korean automaker Hyundai is looking to solidify its place in the US. After being left out of the new EV tax incentives, Hyundai wants to build “Made in America” electric vehicles.

Earlier this year, Hyundai laid out its plans to become an EV powerhouse. The automaker wants to capture 7% of the global EV market, or 1.87 million sales by 2030, with 11 new Hyundai EV models and six for its luxury brand, Genesis.

This year, Hyundai introduced the IONIQ 6, which has a 379-mile range. It will be followed by the IONIQ 7 in 2024.

To ramp EV production, the South Korean automaker said in May that it would be building its first dedicated EV plant in the US.

The $5.5 billion facility was initially slated to start next year, with commercial production beginning in 2025. Once the EV plant is up and running, it expects around 300,000 annual EV production.

However, a new report claims Hyundai may just be speeding up its timeline for US-built EVs. According to a major South Korean news agency, Yonhap News, Hyundai could start construction on its US EV plant by the end of 2022.

Hyundai to start making US-built EVs in 2024?

Passing by a Hyundai, you most likely wouldn’t expect it to be made in the US. But that may be a reality sooner rather than later.

Yonhap News agency said an unidentified source within the industry claimed Hyundai is looking to start construction later this year with commercial production in 2024.

Although Hyundai has yet to confirm this information, the move would make sense. President Biden signed the historic Inflation Reduction Act last week (good news!), with a part focusing on making EVs more accessible in the US.

The bill is good news for US automakers but not so much for companies like Hyundai and Kia, which produce EVs in other countries and export them to the US.

The biggest highlight of the new climate bill for EV owners is the EV tax credit. With the new bill, EV buyers will be entitled to a $7,500 tax credit for new EVs and $4,500 for used ones.

However, the bill aims to simulate production in the US, so for automakers’ EVs to be eligible, all materials must be sourced domestically. For this reason, Hyundai is eyeing an EV built in the US, which will likely be the start of a new trend.

Electrek’s Take

A foreign automaker making a massive push to make US-built cars? Yes, you heard that right. Although Hyundai was already planning to build vehicles in the US, the new climate bill makes building EVs on US soil more appealing.

It seems Hyundai was playing it smart by getting ahead of the pack by making practical plans for “made in America” EVs. Now, the automaker wants to speed up the process.

The new Inflation Reduction Act is already sending ripples through the economy. It’s starting with Hyundai. Who will be the next foreign automaker to announce an EV built here in the US?

This is massive news in my eyes. Major foreign automakers like Hyundai moving their operations to the US to build EVs could be a spark the economy is looking for. I expect more of this to come soon

Source: Electrek

• In our charging test, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 matched their claimed charging rates of 10 to 80 percent in 18 minutes, while the Genesis Electrified G80 also equaled its advertised time of 10 to 80 percent in 22 minutes.

• With average charging rates between 117 kW and 135 kW over the entirety of our test from 10 to 90 percent, the Korean EVs are among the fastest-charging sub-$100K electrics.

• The time required to add 100 miles of real-world highway range was 11 minutes for the Ioniq 5, EV6, and GV60, while the G80 needed an extra minute to meet the mark.

Automakers often make lofty claims for their products, ranging from acceleration times to fuel efficiency, driving range, and a more recent metric, charging rate. For decades, we’ve tested these kinds of assertions for ourselves, and in 2021 began testing fast-charging capabilities of new EVs. For those of us more familiar with pumping liquid fuels than visiting a charging station–which is pretty much all of us–the metrics to judge these vehicles by can be complicated. For our test, we charge every EV on the highest speed equipment it can handle from a 10 percent to 90 percent state of charge. In our testing, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and both the Genesis GV60 and Electrified G80 exactly matched their charging estimates, placing them among the fastest charging EVs at any price.

There are a few different metrics that we look at when talking about how quickly an EV can replenish its battery. There’s the peak charging rate, although more relevant is the average rate over the entire 10 to 90 percent charge, as the rate falls off considerably at higher states of charge. Also, we consider how long it takes to add miles of real-world highway range, based on the range testing we do at 75 mph. Not surprisingly, the Ioniq 5, EV6, and GV60—which are all underpinned by the same E-GMP platform—share near identical peak rates of 230–231 kW. The G80 lags behind slightly with a 180-kW maximum, however it is ahead of the pack with an average rate of 135 kW over its 32 minute stint at an Electrify America charging station. The E-GMP siblings also had exceptional showings, returning 117–118kW averages in 33 minutes of total charging time.

Charging Time as Advertised

Hyundai and Genesis share claimed charging figures for their respective E-GMP variants: 10–80 percent in 18 minutes. In our testing, all three iterations exactly matched that claim. The G80 also met Genesis’ prospective charging speed, sliding the battery gauge from 10 to 80 percent in just 22 minutes. To put a slight damper on things, these are relatively small battery packs at 77.4 kWh and 87.2 kWh respectively (for comparison’s sake the larger of the two packs on the Ford F-150 Lightning is 131.0 kWh, which is 69-percent and 50-percent larger, respectively), meaning they’re not taking in massive amounts of juice, but what they are receiving comes quickly.

To make these statistics more user-friendly in the real world, we took to our TI-85 calculator and calculated the time required for each of these EVs to add 100 miles of range. Using our highway range results as an indicator, we found the Ioniq 5, EV6, and GV60 to need a minuscule 11 minutes to add enough juice for 100 miles of driving when plugged in at a 10-percent state of charge, while the second hand needed only one more trip around the dial for the G80 to finish the job. In this metric, only the Lucid Air and Porsche Taycan CrossTurismo from this year’s EV of the Year field were quicker.

Only one EV has matched the Electrified G80’s average charging rate of 135 kW, the Lucid Air, and the Mercedes-Benz EQS580 sits alone atop the leaderboard, a single tick higher at 136 kW. Resting between the G80 and the E-GMP group are only two others, a 2020 Porsche Taycan 4S (127 kW), and 2021 Tesla Model S Plaid (125 kW). But that doesn’t tell the whole story, so let’s talk price. We don’t have official pricing for the G80 as of this writing, however we expect it to start right around $80,000. Our Ioniq 5 Limited and EV6 Wind were well optioned all-wheel-drive models, with price tags of $57,490 and $54,190 respectively, and our GV60 Performance rang in at $69,560. The Lucid Air Grand Touring now requires at least a $155,650 check for purchase, the cheapest EQS crests six-figures at $103,360, tack on another $28k for a base Model S Plaid, and a base Taycan starts at $84,050, making it the only competitor-in-charging to the newcomers under $100k.

The smallest differential between the Koreans and the competition is $4050 between the Taycan and G80 (assuming our G80 price estimate is dead on), and the largest difference, a whopping–drumroll, please–$101,460, is between our EV6 test car and a base Lucid Air Grand Touring. All of this is to say that cost doesn’t directly correlate to performance. And when it comes to charging the newest generation of Hyundai, and Genesis EVs, that couldn’t be more true.

Source: Car and Driver

Hyundai Motor Group is now the world's third-largest automaker in terms of sales volume.

Hyundai Motor Group said Monday that its global sales volume from January to June of this year stood at 3.3 million vehicles, coming in third behind Volkswagen Group, which sold 4 million vehicles, and Toyota, which ranked first with 5.1 million vehicles sold.

The Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance followed behind Hyundai with 3.14 million vehicles and Stellantis with 3.01 million vehicles sold.

Hyundai Motor Group ranked fifth in the first half of last year.

Experts say the production setbacks of global automakers due to the shortage of semiconductors contributed to Hyundai Motor Group's rise in the global market.

Hyundai Motor and affiliate Kia Corp. saw a 5.1 percent decrease in sales during the first half of this year compared to a year ago, but the gap was smaller than that of the other automotive groups.

Toyota's sales decreased by 6 percent, Volkswagen by 14 percent, Stellantis by 16 percent, the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance by 17.3 percent and GM by 18.6 percent compared to the same period last year.

An increase in sales of Hyundai Motor's luxury Genesis brand and a strategy of entering the eco-friendly car market in its early stage also contributed to the rise of Hyundai Motor Group's global ranking.

Genesis vehicle sales totaled 25,668 units in the U.S., the world's second-largest automobile market, during the first half of 2022, setting a new record for the highest sales in the first half of the year.

According to Bloomberg, Hyundai Motor Group sold 27,000 EVs in the U.S. market between January and May of this year, ranking second after Tesla on the back of the popularity of the Ioniq 5 and EV6.

"It seems that Hyundai Motor Group's unique potential to use the unprecedented crisis in the automobile industry as an opportunity, such as the supply shortage of semiconductors and the transition to electrification, seems to have excelled," an automobile industry official said.

Source: Korea Times

Concept cars are all about capturing our imaginations. We want them to be big and bold and to truly stand out from the crowd. Which is needed now more than ever, in a car world where so many designs are dull and drab. Unless you are Hyundai, however. Hyundai is just knocking it out of the park right now with their ultra-cool car designs, just take a look at the Ioniq 5 and the new Ioniq 6. Two of the best, if not the best, designed EVs in the world right now.

They’ve not rested on their laurels either. Hyundai recently unveiled two new concept cars. One was the N Vision 74, a hydrogen fuel-cell car inspired by the 1974 Pony Coupe concept and the N 2025 Vision Gran Turismo. The other was the RN22e, an electric powered concept using the Hyundai E-GMP platform and with the Ioniq 6’s body design. These are two of the coolest concept cars of 2022 and will likely be unbeaten. We’ve already explored the N Vision 74, so let's take a look at the RN22e and why we love this car so much.

Getting To Know The Hyundai RN22e Concept

The RN22e is all about continuing Hyundai’s vision on electrification. And they’ve certainly done it with a striking design. It is based upon the Ioniq 6 body, and utilizes the E-GMP platform that has been used so successfully in the Ioniq 5, will be used in the Ioniq 6 and has also seen use in sister company Kia’s equally brilliant EV6. Hyundai says the name signifies that the car is a rolling lab of the N brand, developed in 2022 with EV performance. But most people will be instantly drawn to that eye-catching design.

The car is quite striking. The design of the Ioniq 6 is very streamlined, which will help the RN22e leverage the aerodynamic features of the EV. There are plenty of motorsport inspired details too. The low ground clearance for starters, and the wide and sturdy stance with the broad and emphasized shoulders. The car properly stands out. A large rear wing at the back further adds to the motorsport look, as does the lower bumper. It isn’t as radical as the N Vision 74, but it is gorgeous and certainly one of the best concept cars we’ve seen in a long time.

The Specifications Of The RN22e

There is plenty to be excited about under the skin of the RN22e as well. The N range of Hyundai’s are developed with cornering capability in mind, and with the e-LSD, Corner Carving Differential on the RN22e, the concept will feel an utter joy in the corners. The RN22e is heavier than a lot of N cars, but Hyundai say that enhances its performances through the corners, also via it exploring torque vectoring by twin clutch. But to keep some weight down, Hyundai have used 3D printed parts that not only lower the overall weight but keep the rigidity of the car too.

As you might expect, the RN22e is all-wheel drive, which allows for fully optimized torque distribution via the different drive modes. Those modes allow the driver to choose the torque power on the front and the rear wheels of the car. Cooling and braking performance was a big focus given the cars track capability. Four piston monoblock callipers and a 400 mm hybrid disc give great braking performance, allowing the car to withstand the weight of its power electric system. But Hyundai is also using the car to study dynamic movement with regenerative-braking as we attack the corners and the car yaws.

A Truly Mesmerizing Car

Hyundai says that the RN22e has a 77.4 kWh battery pack with 800V fast charging capability. When it comes to power, the front and rear combined produce 430 kW of power and that propels the car to a top speed of around 155 mph, or 250 km/h. Away from the power, Hyundai are using the RN22e to really innovate. The car has Sound+, generating interior and exterior sounds for a dynamic driving feel, while the car’s N e-shift integrates the vibrating and shifting feeling of an N car via N Sound+. Even if you don’t like that sort of thing, the technology behind it is so impressive.

Hyundai Knocks It Out Of The Park

Hyundai once again have knocked it out of the park. They are currently the kings of electric vehicle design and this, plus the hydrogen N Vision 74 shows just how far other companies have to go to catch up. Remember, the RN22e is based on the upcoming Ioniq 6 and Hyundai’s actual production cars look just as good as both concepts. We love what Hyundai are doing right now, and no doubt they will keep knocking it out of the park for a long time to come.

Source: Hotcars

Drowsy or drunken driving is one of the major causes of major traffic accidents. Automakers are applying driver negligence monitoring technologies to prevent it. 

Hyundai Mobis, the parts-making unit of Hyundai Motors, has come up with a smart cabin controller that can monitor and analyse various biometric signals such as driver's posture, heart rate, and brain wave in real time to ensure safe driving. 

This safety technology is focused on the occupants rather than on vehicle performance, working autonomously from the overall car package and making sure drivers are given the tools to drive as effectively as possible.

The company said that this is the first time a dedicated healthcare controller has been developed that can perform an integrated analysis of various vital signs.

Cheon Jae-seung, head of the R&D division, Hyundai Mobis, said: "Based on the unique vital signs database we've built up, we will upgrade this technology further to provide more features, including carsickness prevention, stress management, and the blocking of drunk driving."

The technology behind Hyundai Mobis' new cabin controller

Mobis, which has christened the new tech as Smart Cabin Controller, said it is equipped with four sensors: a 3D camera to capture the posture of occupants, an ECG sensor mounted on the steering wheel will keep a tab on the heart of the driver, an ear-set sensor will measure the brainwaves flowing around ears and an HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) sensor will measure the temperature / humidity and carbon dioxide level of the cabin. 

The controller analyzes various vital signs collected from these sensors in real time to help with safe driving.

Based on such information, an alarm can ring or be displayed on any of the digital display systems in the vehicle. 

If the ECG sensor detects a high stress level in the driver, it can recommend switching to the autonomous switching mode or even stop the vehicle, if need be. 

It can open windows or switches to the outside-circulation mode if the CO2 level is too high. "This technology is expected to further evolve to be able to guide the vehicle to an emergency room in case of an emergency, such as cardiac arrest," Cheon Jae-seung added.

Last year, Hyundai Mobis unveiled 'M.Brain', a brainwave-based driver monitoring system, and 'M.VICS', an autonomous driving cockpit system equipped with various new healthcare technologies, including an ECG sensor, driver monitoring camera, and carsickness reduction technology.

The driver’s attention is assessed by combining the driving data such as lane departure, steering wheel control, acceleration and deceleration, and the other data of driver status such as eye blink detection.

Source: Tech Radar

It wasn’t two days ago when we were talking about Hyundai being a real force in EVs, and, what do you know, on Wednesday Hyundai and Kia announced a new plan to spend $16.5 billion on EV development in what is an EV arms race among automakers.

From Bloomberg:

Hyundai Motor Co. and its affiliate Kia plan to invest 21 trillion won ($16.5 billion) to boost the production of electric vehicles in South Korea, including the establishment of new factory that would ultimately have the capacity to make around 150,000 cleaner cars a year.

Under the plan, the two automakers aim to increase annual EV production in [South Korea] to 1.44 million units by 2030 from an expected 350,000 units this year, Hyundai said in a statement Wednesday. That forecast 1.44 million output would account for about 45% of Hyundai and Kia’s planned global EV production volume by then.

The new factory for purpose-built vehicles will be located within its existing Hwaseong manufacturing site, as said in a separate statement. Construction is expected to begin in the first half of 2023, with commercial production starting in the second half of 2025.