Hyundai Motor launched the large electric sports utility vehicle (SUV) 'Ionic 9' in the domestic market on the 13th. The maximum driving range on a single charge of the Ionic 9 is 532 km, which is the longest among Hyundai's electric vehicles. The basic trim is priced in the 60 million won range, making it competitive compared to Kia's rival model, the EV9.
Jung Yu-seok, vice president of Hyundai Motor, said at the 'Ionic 9 new car briefing' held at the Grand Walkerhill Hotel in Gwangjin District, Seoul, on the 12th, that “the excellent power utilization based on the large-capacity battery the Ionic 9 has will provide new possibilities for drivers.”
The Ionic 9 is equipped with a lithium-ion battery developed by SK On. The battery capacity is 110.3 kWh, allowing it to run over 500 km on a full charge. It features a multi ultra-fast charging system, capable of charging from 10% to 80% in just 24 minutes when using a 350 kW charger.
Choi Jun-seok, head of the battery design team at Hyundai Motor, explained, “the government has participated in the pre-certification system that verifies battery safety, passing various safety evaluations, including vibration, thermal shock, and combustion flooding.”
The Ionic 9 is expected to be available for purchase at around the mid-60 million won range when the electric vehicle subsidies are applied. This is more than 600,000 won cheaper compared to Kia's similarly classified model, the EV9 (73.37 million to 83.79 million won), which was launched last year.
The prices by trim are ▲7-seater Exclusive 67.15 million won ▲Prestige 73.15 million won ▲Calligraphy 77.92 million won, and for the 6-seater, ▲Exclusive 69.03 million won ▲Prestige 74.64 million won ▲Calligraphy 79.41 million won.
Amid challenges such as entry into the Chinese electric vehicle market and the electric vehicle chasm, Hyundai Motor aims to overcome sluggish demand with reasonable pricing. The large electric vehicle market is in its early growth stage, making it important to lower consumer entry barriers.
Starting with the domestic launch of the Ionic 9, Hyundai Motor plans to expand sales regions to the U.S. and Europe. The domestic sales target for the first year of the Ionic 9's launch is about 6,500 units. As a large electric SUV, it is aimed primarily at family car demand, as well as customers enjoying leisure activities like camping and outdoor adventures.