Hyundai's China IONIQ Push

Hyundai has launched the IONIQ electric vehicle brand in China and used two concept cars, VENUS and EARTH, to signal a fresh push into the country’s largest auto market. (hyundai.com) The launch event ran in Beijing from April 7 to April 10, and Hyundai said the new brand was built specifically for China ahead of Auto China 2026, which opens on April 24. VENUS is a sedan concept and EARTH is a family sport utility vehicle concept. (hyundai.com) Hyundai said production models will follow and will combine its global safety and quality standards with “smart driving” and “smart cabin” features aimed at Chinese buyers. Beijing Hyundai president Li Fenggang said the company would keep introducing products shaped by local consumer demand. (hyundai.com) The company is making that bet in a market where electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids already made up 54 percent of new car sales in China in 2025, according to China Passenger Car Association data cited by the South China Morning Post. The same report said foreign brands’ market share fell to 35 percent in 2025 from 53 percent in 2022. (scmp.com) Hyundai is also trying to recover from a long slide in China. The South China Morning Post reported its mainland deliveries fell nearly 80 percent between 2018 and 2024, before rebounding 15 percent in 2025 to 154,000 units. (scmp.com) That rebound is now being tied to a bigger production plan. The Korea Herald reported on March 30 that Hyundai aims to build 41,500 eco-friendly vehicles in China in 2026, up more than 33-fold from a year earlier, and to lift total China sales, including exports, to 218,000 units. (koreaherald.com) The same report said eco-friendly models are expected to account for about 20 percent of Beijing Hyundai output in 2026, up from 0.6 percent in 2025. Hyundai is also preparing mass production of a China-dedicated electric sedan, code-named EA1c, in June, according to the Korea Herald. (koreaherald.com) Hyundai is making the China push while its global business stays profitable but under pressure from tariffs and competition. Hyundai Motor said on January 29 that 2025 revenue rose 6.3 percent to 186.3 trillion won, while operating profit fell 19.5 percent to 11.47 trillion won. (hyundaimotorgroup.com) The company’s electrified sales are growing outside China as well. Hyundai said it sold 961,812 electrified vehicles worldwide in 2025, up 27 percent from 2024, including 275,669 battery electric vehicles. (hyundaimotorgroup.com) Analyst Gao Shen told the South China Morning Post that new electric launches by foreign brands show they are trying to regain ground in China, but that sales gains will take time. Hyundai said it will disclose more about its China models and electrification strategy at the Beijing auto show on April 24. (scmp.com)