Hyundai Motor Group has achieved outstanding results in the most prestigious crash safety ratings in the United States, outperforming its competitors. The flagship large electric SUV, Hyundai Motor's Ioniq 9, and Kia's EV9 both received the highest ratings in all evaluation categories.

According to Hyundai Motor Group on December 23, the crash safety evaluation results announced by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) in the United States showed that the Genesis G80 and Kia Sorento received the Top Safety Pick Plus (TSP+) rating, while the Hyundai Palisade earned the Top Safety Pick (TSP) rating. As a result, Hyundai Motor Group had the highest number of models-21 in total-awarded TSP+ and TSP ratings among global automotive groups this year. In comparison, Volkswagen and Honda, which tied for second place, had only nine models each on the list.

Kia EV9. Provided by Kia

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Hyundai Motor Group has achieved the record of being selected as 'the safest car' the most times for two consecutive years, and the number of models awarded the TSP+ rating has increased significantly from 12 last year to 18 this year.

The models that received the TSP+ rating include eight Hyundai vehicles: Ioniq 5, Ioniq 6, Ioniq 9, Kona, Tucson, Santa Fe, Avante (marketed as Elantra in the U.S.), and Sonata; five Kia vehicles: EV9, Sportage, Sorento, Telluride, and K4; and five Genesis vehicles: GV60, GV70, Electrified GV70, GV80, and G80.

For the TSP rating, three models were selected: Hyundai Palisade and Santa Cruz, and Genesis G90.

This result also demonstrates the outstanding safety of the dedicated electric vehicle platform, E-GMP. The Ioniq 9 and EV9 received the highest rating of 'Good' in all categories, including frontal and side crash evaluations and crash prevention system assessments. Other E-GMP electric vehicles, such as the compact SUV Ioniq 5, GV60, and the midsize sedan Ioniq 6, were also awarded the TSP+ rating.

Experts note that the E-GMP's design philosophy-prioritizing safety through a multi-skeletal structure that effectively disperses energy during a collision and the expanded use of ultra-high-strength steel-has led to these empirical results.

Additionally, key internal combustion engine models equipped with hybrid powertrains, such as the Avante, Sportage, and Santa Fe, were also awarded the TSP+ rating, proving that the group maintains consistent safety and sustainable competitiveness across all powertrains during the transition to electrification.

Genesis G80. Provided by Genesis

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IIHS awards the TSP+ rating to vehicles with the highest level of safety in crash evaluations and the TSP rating to those with good performance. This year, the institute applied even stricter criteria for rear-seat passenger safety. In frontal crash tests, a dummy representing a small female or a 12-year-old child was placed in the rear seat behind the driver to better reflect the types of injuries most likely to occur to rear-seat passengers in real-world accidents. Until last year, a 'Good' rating was sufficient to earn TSP+, but starting this year, TSP+ requires a 'Good' rating, while TSP requires at least an 'Acceptable' rating, reflecting the strengthened standards.

A Hyundai Motor Group official stated, "The group's commitment to prioritizing customer safety has been proven for the second consecutive year through the world's most prestigious evaluations," adding, "We will continue to strengthen customer trust by providing vehicles with the highest global safety standards."