Hyundai and Kia Are Betting Yes
Hyundai and Kia believe that more affordable EVs will mitigate the impact of the new tariffs imposed by President Trump. Discover what this means for the two automakers and their drivers.
Hyundai and Kia both offer extremely affordable electric vehicles (EVs). The IONIQ 5 and EV6 are both competitively priced, and both automakers plan to release new, even less costly, EVs soon.
Hyundai and Kia’s New EVs to Hit the US
Kia has already announced plans to sell a new entry-level electric car in Europe, called the Kia EV2, designed for use in urban areas. Now, Hyundai is set to unveil a new EV, as well. Speculation suggests it could be an IONIQ 2.
Xavier Martinet, the CEO of Hyundai Motor Europe, would not confirm the potential unveiling of an IONIQ 2, in particular. However, he did indicate during a recent interview that Hyundai has plans to unveil its new EV within the next few months.
Most experts believe that Hyundai’s new EV will be a compact SUV that resembles the soon-to-be-released Kia EV2, which is set to launch in Europe in 2026. Drivers can expect it to occupy the subcompact SUV space below the Kona Electric as a small EV designed for city driving.
The new Hyundai EV is rumored to be priced at around $35,000. The Kia EV3 starts at around $42,000 in Europe and the UK, which places the new Hyundai EV at a slightly lower price point.
Meet the Hyundai Inster EV
Currently, Hyundai already sells an electric city car in Europe, Korea, Japan, and elsewhere. The car is called the Inster EV, and it has a starting MSRP of around $27,000.
The Inster EV performs well in Europe and Japan, and some local reports indicate that drivers are waiting over a year for their new electric city cars. While the new Hyundai electric vehicle to be released in the US is unlikely to be a modified version of the Inster EV, this trend shows promise for the performance of a smaller EV in US markets.
What’s Kia Up To in the Small EV Segment?
The Kia EV3 is an EV based on Kia’s E-GMP platform. Drivers can choose from two available battery packs. The smaller of them provides a range of up to 270 miles, while the larger has a 375-mile range.
Kia is also working on a smaller electric car that will sit below the EV2. This vehicle will start at under $30,000, making it competitively priced in US markets.
What to Expect in Response to the US Auto Tariffs
Kia intends to use low-priced EVs to counterbalance potential losses from the new US car tariffs. Hyundai is taking a slightly different approach. An industry insider has indicated that Hyundai will continue to focus on European markets due to the risk of US tariffs.
Though the automaker is focused primarily on Europe, you’ll still find great deals at the Hyundai dealership. The IONIQ 5 is one of the top-selling EVs in the US, and the first IONIQ 9 models hit the road in May.
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