Ulsan or Hwaseong... Neck-and-Neck for No.1 Electric Vehicle Exporter Title

Hyundai Motor and Kia Lead Electric Vehicle Export Race
Kia Accelerates Exports Based on Hwaseong Plant
Hyundai Motor Revamps Ulsan Plant to Push Forward in April and May
New Models Join and Production Lines Expand
Healthy Competition to Continue in Second Half

Hyundai Motor Company's Ioniq 5 production line at the Ulsan plant

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Dae-yeol] The competition for dominance between Hyundai Motor Company and Kia over the electric vehicle (EV) export hub is intensifying.

While Hyundai Motor Company still firmly holds the top spot in overall automobile exports, including internal combustion engine vehicles, Kia took the lead in EV exports for the first time last year by increasing export volumes based on its Hwaseong plant. This year, with Kia's Hwaseong plant actively exporting EVs, Ulsan has surged ahead again through last month following April, resulting in a back-and-forth situation.

According to statistics from the Korea International Trade Association on the 21st, the EV export volume from Ulsan Buk-gu, where Hyundai Motor's plant is located, totaled 39,236 units up to last month this year. During the same period, the EV export volume from Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province, where Kia's plant is located, was 41,607 units, slightly ahead of Ulsan.

The EV export volumes from these two regions account for more than 97% of the country's total exports, representing virtually the majority. Both Ulsan and Hwaseong plants are considered South Korea's frontline bases for automobile exports, shipping vehicles directly overseas immediately after production.

Kia Hwaseong Plant's EV6 Production Line

Ulsan had consistently held the number one position since South Korea began significantly increasing EV exports in 2017 but lost the lead to Hwaseong for the first time last year. Hwaseong has maintained the top spot this year by increasing exports to North America and Europe, but in April and May, Ulsan reclaimed first place for two consecutive months. The export volumes for April and May were 17,565 units for Ulsan and 13,141 units for Hwaseong. Considering the fluctuations in finished vehicle production and delivery schedules due to the semiconductor shortage for vehicles, Hyundai's recent export drive stands out.

Ulsan, along with Asan and Jeonju, is Hyundai Motor's key domestic production base. It produces all of Hyundai's EVs, including the currently mass-produced Ioniq 5, Kona EV, and all electric vehicles from the premium Genesis brand. Except for the yet-to-be-officially-released sedan-type Ioniq 6, all of the company's EVs are produced at the Ulsan plants (Plants 1 to 5). Kia's Hwaseong plant, together with Gwangmyeong and Gwangju plants, is one of the company's three major domestic production bases, producing the dedicated EV6 and Niro EV. Kia's other EVs, the Soul EV and the 1-ton electric truck Bongo EV, are manufactured at the Gwangju plant.

Kia Hwaseong Plant Overview

The 'friendly competition' between the finished vehicle subsidiaries within the same group is expected to continue in the second half of this year. Centered on the dedicated EVs Ioniq 5 and EV6, which have received favorable reviews for their EV product competitiveness in advanced markets such as North America and Europe, several major new models are scheduled to join the lineup. Hyundai is set to launch the Ioniq 6 next month, and the high-performance version of the EV6, the EV6 GT, has been announced.

Hyundai Motor is conducting local EV production at some overseas plants, including Indonesia, but the volume is not expected to be large for now, with exports of domestically produced vehicles expected to dominate. Kia recently completed negotiations with the labor union to expand the EV6 production line at the Hwaseong plant to meet high domestic and international demand.

The largest destination for Korean-made EVs exported through Ulsan or Hwaseong is the United States, accounting for one-third of the total export volume. The United Kingdom, Germany, Canada, and Sweden ranked second to fifth among export countries.

Hyundai Motor Ulsan Plant Export Shipping Dock

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.