Hyundai Motor to unveil electric Ioniq 9 SUV at LA Auto Show

Hyundai’s 2021 concept car ‘Seven’ is expected to be similar to the basic design of the Ioniq 9. [Courtesy of Hyundai Motor Co.]

Hyundai Motor Co. is gearing up to debut its large electric sport utility vehicle (SUV), the Ioniq 9, in Los Angeles this November.

According to industry sources on Sunday, the automaker plans to hold the world premiere for the Ioniq 9 in LA and will follow up by showcasing the vehicle at the LA Auto, which will take place at the LA Convention Center from November 22nd to December 1st, 2024.

The Ioniq 9 is Hyundai’s first three-row electric SUV and the largest of its electric vehicles (EVs) equipped with the E-GMP platform. It is reported to be several centimeters longer, wider, and taller than Kia’s EV9.

Hyundai has reportedly decided to name its new SUV the Ioniq 9, instead of following the numeric sequence of its previous releases, the Ioniq 5 and 6. Industry sources believe this is to avoid consumer confusion regarding the vehicle’s class, and to emphasize it as the top model among Hyundai’s EVs, amid concerns that naming it Ioniq 7 might not highlight its size compared to the Ioniq 9 name.

The decision to unveil the new model in the United States rather than in the company’s home market of South Korea is notable. The Ioniq 5 was revealed online due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and the Ioniq 6 was first unveiled online before being showcased at the Busan motor show. The Ioniq 5N was revealed at the U.K.’s Goodwood Festival of Speed in 2023, given its high-performance features. Hyundai seems to have chosen the United States for the Ioniq 9’s debut as it is expected it to be the primary market for sales.

The EV9 also had significantly higher sales in the United States than in Korea. The EV9 has been on sale in the country since late 2023, with 11,486 units sold there between January and July 2024 to exceed 30 percent of Kia‘s total EV sales.

Hyundai aims to tackle the global EV market with the Ioniq 9. Despite the global slowdown in EV growth, Hyundai plans to continue releasing strategic new EVs to maintain its leadership during the transition to electrification.

The key will be the marketability of the Ioniq 9. Despite its large size, over 5 meters long, Hyundai plans to enhance its distinctiveness with a low drag coefficient, a driving range of over 500 kilometers, and substantial battery capacity. The exterior will be simple, with a spacious interior to maximize its competitiveness as a family car. Level 3 autonomous driving technology will not be included in the new model due to regulatory limitations.

The price is expected to be similar to the EV9, which approaches 100 million won ($73,200) with options, given its incorporation of Hyundai’s core electrification technologies and its large size.

The Ioniq 9 is expected to be produced from the fourth quarter of 2024 at Hyundai‘s Asan plant in Korea and at Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America’s Georgia plant in the United States. The initial production target is about 200,000 units, while a Hyundai official said the company is still finalizing the list of models to be exhibited at the LA Auto Show.