Domestic Electric Cars Popular in Europe... Over Twice the Sales Compared to the US Market

The European market has emerged as the largest export region for electric vehicles in the Korean automotive industry.

According to the investor relations (IR) materials of Hyundai Motor Company and Kia on the 7th, the combined local electric vehicle sales of the two companies in Europe in the first quarter of this year totaled 33,831 units. Hyundai sold 15,945 units, while Kia sold 18,886 units.

Compared to electric vehicle sales in the United States during the same period, this figure is more than double. In the U.S., Hyundai sold 8,623 units and Kia sold 6,080 units.

Competition in the European electric vehicle market is fierce. Leading companies such as Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Volkswagen are actively pursuing electrification, while the European Union (EU) and individual governments have made carbon neutrality their top policy agenda.

The best-selling Hyundai Motor Group electric vehicle in Europe in the first quarter was the Kia Niro EV (8,758 units). This was followed by the Kia EV6 (8,574 units), Hyundai Kona EV (7,743 units), and Hyundai Ioniq 5 (6,114 units).

Kia’s first dedicated electric vehicle, the EV6, was selected as the 'European Car of the Year' in February last year, the year after its European launch, marking the first time a Korean automotive brand received this honor. It also consecutively won various automotive and design awards across European countries.

The Hyundai Ioniq 5 was also named 'Car of the Year' in traditional automotive powerhouses such as the United Kingdom and Germany.

The Ioniq 5 and EV6 began full-scale sales in May and July 2021, respectively, and their sales peaked last year due to the new car effect.

Hyundai Motor Group plans to introduce high-performance models such as the EV6 GT, the large flagship electric sports utility vehicle (SUV) EV9, and the new Kona EV to the European market this year.

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