New Hyundai EV Looks Different From The Rest

Hyundai has unveiled its first battery-electric vehicle engineered specifically for the Chinese market. Developed over five years through Beijing Hyundai, the automaker’s joint venture with local partner BAIC Motor Corporation, the Elexio is a key part of Hyundai’s strategy to reverse slumping sales and to better compete with dominant local brands like BYD.

Based on Hyundai Motor Group’s versatile E-GMP electric platform – the same architecture used in models like the Ioniq 5, Ioniq 6, and Kia EV6 – the Elexio adopts a unique design language described by Hyundai as inspired by the “crystal concept of luck,” according to Chinese automotive analyst Tycho de Feijter. Images posted on the Chinese social media platform Weibo indicate the new EV is smaller than the upcoming Ioniq 9 but slightly larger than the Ioniq 5.

Targeted Design

Distinctive styling includes headlights featuring four-point cube elements, reportedly a nod to the number eight, considered lucky in China. Like many modern EVs, it incorporates front and rear light bars and flush door handles. Other visible features include substantial roof rails, large two-tone alloy wheels, and gloss black wheel arch cladding over flared fenders.

Tech Focus For A Competitive Market

While images of the interior were not released, Hyundai indicates the cabin is packed with technology selected for Chinese consumer preferences. The dashboard is expected to be largely free of physical buttons, relying instead on screen-based controls. A massive 27-inch head-up display is planned, alongside infotainment powered by a high-performance Qualcomm Snapdragon 8295 chip. This system will reportedly integrate advanced Large Language Model (LLM) artificial intelligence solutions. As for Elexio’s advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS), it will be sourced from Chinese tech giant Huawei.

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On the performance front, Hyundai claims the Elexio will offer impressive charging speeds, capable of charging its battery from 30 percent to 80 percent in 27 minutes. The company also targets a driving range of up to 700 kilometers (approximately 435 miles), although this figure is likely based on the optimistic China Light-Duty Vehicle Test Cycle (CLTC). Specific details regarding battery capacity options and the motor have yet to be revealed. The Elexio is scheduled to launch in the Chinese market in the third quarter of 2025.

Hyundai’s Uphill Battle in China

The Elexio comes at a critical time for Hyundai in China. The automaker has seen its sales in the world’s largest auto market plummet dramatically over the past decade, falling from a peak of 1.16 million vehicles sold in 2016 to just 151,000 units in 2024, according to Bloomberg. This steep decline is due to the rapid rise and competition from Chinese brands offering advanced and aggressively priced vehicles. This has forced Hyundai to scale back its manufacturing footprint significantly in the country, closing two of its five factories since 2021.

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Despite these setbacks, Hyundai is not abandoning the crucial Chinese market. The Elexio represents what the Beijing-Hyundai joint venture publicly termed a “retaliatory strike” against local competition. It embodies a new strategic direction focused on developing vehicles “in China, for China, and for the world.” The success or failure of the Elexio will be a key test of Hyundai’s ability to adapt and compete effectively in the demanding Chinese automotive landscape.

Sources: Tycho de Feijter, Bloomberg, Beijing-Hyundai