Hyundai’s IONIQ 6 travels faster, farther than Tesla Model Y, Mercedes EQS

BUSAN – Hyundai Motor Co. has launched the IONIQ 6, its first fully electric sedan, which it claims runs faster and boasts a longer range than the Tesla Model Y and the Mercedes-Benz EQS, the German automaker’s luxury electric model.

The top South Korean automaker showcased the IONIQ 6, the second model under its standalone electric vehicle sub-brand IONIQ, during the Busan International Motor Show 2022, which opened Thursday.

The latest model, the design of which was unveiled last month, won accolades from auto magazines and car experts even before the official launch for its unique design and features as well as its performance, including longer mileage than other EVs available in the EV market.

Hyundai plans to begin mass production of the IONIQ 6 at a factory in Asan, Korea in the third quarter and take it to the global market, starting with Europe, later this year. The vehicle will go on sale in the US in the first half of next year.

For the Korean market, the company will receive preorders from July 28 for sale in September, with an aim to sell 12,000 units in Korea by year-end.

The electric sedan will initially be equipped with batteries supplied by SK On Co., a unit of SK Innovation Co. and from next year, it will sit on battery cells from LG Energy Solution Ltd., Hyundai officials said.

“The IONIQ 6 is the next ambitious step forward in Hyundai Motor’s strategy to accelerate its transition to electrification and take its position as a global EV leader,” said Hyundai Motor Chief Executive Chang Jae-hoon as he drove the electric sedan onto the stage at the motor show.

FIRST MOVER, NOT FAST FOLLOWER

The IONIQ 6 will be available in two versions based on the battery size: the standard one with a 53 kWh battery pack and the long-range model with a 77.4 kWh battery pack.

The long-range model can travel up to 524 km on a single charge, as approved by Korea’s commerce ministry, according to Hyundai. That’s longer mileage than the Tesla Model Y’s 511 km, the Mercedes-Benz EQS’ 478 km and the Volvo Polestar 2’s 417 km.

Hyundai said the IONIQ 6 is the most efficient in power use among electric vehicles. The car can travel 6.2 km per kWh, compared with the Tesla Model Y’s 5.4 km, the Polestar 2’s 4.8 km and the Mercedes EQS’ 3.8 km.

With an 800V fast charger, the IONIQ 6 can charge from 10% to 80% in just 18 minutes, it said. The vehicle can go from 0 km/h to 100 km/h in 5.1 seconds.

Dubbed an “electrified streamliner,” the IONIQ 6 has a unique bubbly design with its cocoon-shaped interior serving as both a comfortable hideaway and a personal space, Hyundai said.

Its modular touchscreen dashboard integrates a 12-inch full-touch infotainment display and a 12-inch digital cluster.

The company said the IONIQ 6 also assures the safety of backseat passengers with its Safe Exit Warning (SEW), which gives a warning sound if a vehicle approaches from the rear when a passenger gets out of the car.

TO DOUBLE EV LINEUP BY 2030

The IONIQ 6, which follows the IONIQ 5 crossover launched last year, will sell at the starting price of 55 million won ($41,905) in Korea, with the price tag rising to 65 million won depending on the features.

Hyundai Motor plans to double its EV lineup to 13 by 2030 from the current six models – three from Hyundai and three from its premium Genesis brand.

It is also developing high-performance electric cars under the special N brand.

Globally, Hyundai aims to raise its annual EV sales to over 1.8 million units by 2030 from 140,000 units in 2021, company executives said.

CEO Chang said at the Busan motor show that the company plans to spend about 2 trillion won building an EV plant in Korea – its first such domestic investment in 29 years.

At the Busan auto show, Hyundai affiliate Kia Corp. unveiled the EV9 flagship SUV concept ahead of its domestic launch next year.

The EV9, likely to officially launch in April next year, will be equipped with batteries from LG Energy Solution.

Write to Il-Gue Kim and Hyung-Kyu Kim at Black0419@hankyung.com
In-Soo Nam edited this article.