Hyundai Motor, Kia to release electric vehicles every year in China from 2022

[Photo provided by Hyundai Motor Group]

Hyundai Motor Co. and its sibling Kia Corp. will release new electric vehicle models every year in China starting with Hyundai Motor’s Ioniq 5 this year and enhance brand awareness with future mobility technologies to regain ground in the world’s largest automobile market.

Hyundai Motor and Kia unveiled its bold strategies to bolster its business in China during a virtual presentation titled “Rising Again, For China” on Thursday with focus on four goals of strengthening local research and development, expanding electrified vehicle lineup, nurturing the hydrogen fuel cell business and improving its brand awareness.

“China as the world’s largest auto market is full of new opportunities and challenges,” said Lee Kwang-guk, head of Hyundai and Kia’s China operations, during the presentation. “With new strategies, we’ll aim to take the lead in the era of future mobility and rise again in China.”

Hyundai Motor Group will set up a digital research center in Shanghai, China in the second half of the year to bolster the local development capacity. The new center will be in charge of developing future technologies such as for autonomous driving, connectivity, electrification and shared mobility to speed up digital transition in the Chinese auto market.

Targeting the world’s largest green car market, Hyundai and Kia will expand their electrified car lineup, envisioning an eco-friendly mobility solution provider. Hyundai Motor’s first all-electric Ioniq 5 built on its proprietary EV platform E-GMP will be launched in the second half of the year in China, and Kia’s first model of the type EV6 next year.

Starting with the models, Hyundai and Kia are aiming to release new EV models built on E-GMP every year in China to expand the electrified vehicle lineup to a total of 21 by 2030.

[Photo provided by Hyundai Motor Group]

As for the hydrogen economy, the group’s first overseas hydrogen fuel-cell system factory is under construction in Guangzhou, China. Construction on a land of 207,000 square meters will be completed in the latter half of next year.

Hyundai Motor Group started focusing on China’s hydrogen economy after Beijing announced its ambitious hydrogen initiative early this year that carbon emissions from China will be reduced from peak 2030 to meet carbon neutrality by 2060. The Korean auto giant is planning to launch popular hydrogen model Nexo Fuel Cell also in the country in the second half of this year.

For enhanced brand image, the group will emphasize the efficiency of combustion engine-powered models and market mid- to large-size premium models. It recently launched its luxury Genesis brand in China for the first time.

Beijing Hyundai Motor hopes its connected vehicle and self-driving technology brand H Smart+ will help it give brand new driving experience to customers for an image as an innovative brand.

[ㄏ Maeil Business Newspaper & mk.co.kr, All rights reserved]