Hyundai Ioniq sales off to fast-start, with full battery version preferred

The first Hyundai Ioniq delivery in Australia to a private customer will take place on Friday as sales of the country’s first sub-$50,000 full electric vehicle get off to a fast start.

While many of the first deliveries are going to fill government contracts, pre-order customers will be receiving theirs on a first-come, first-served basis with the majority able to expect deliveries in early January – February.

The first boatload of Ioniq EVs has already taken up by pre-orders, and another boatload slated for arrival in late February – March, a person familiar with the matter told The Driven.

While the Hyundai Ioniq is available in three powertrains – the battery electric (BEV), a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) and standard hybrid, it is the arrival of the all-electric model, the first such car in Australia to come under the $A50,000 mark, that is generating the most interest.

General Manager for External Affairs at Hyundai Bill Thomas told The Driven that out of 42 sales closed so far, most are the battery electric model which has a 28kWh battery and approximately 230km real world range.

The phones are running hot as drivers enquire about test drives across the country, and interested drivers are displaying a high level of knowledge.

“Customers are very informed, they’re coming to dealerships and they know everything,” Thomas says, adding that with interest and sales going so well, Hyundai are keeping a close eye on supply but are understandably dictated by demands of larger markets overseas.

The first private customers to receive their Hyundai Ioniq, David and Chris Cann from Adelaide (pictured above test driving a Hyundai Ioniq), will be picking up their all-electric model tomorrow – and they are excited about it.

David and Chris are already proud owners of a 2012 Nissan Leaf,  and David tells The Driven that “the reason for buying the Ioniq is it’s simply the first available…that I can afford.”

“I’ve been waiting for ages, I’ve had a Model 3 reserved from day one,” he says, noting that he ordered an Ioniq model with the standard grey fascia – the black fascia is a special order and those wanting it will have to sit tight.

David is so enthusiastic he has begun the Hyundai Ioniq Enthusiasts Australia group on Facebook, where many would-be customers have shared their experiences in securing a test drive.

With only 17 dealerships across the country stocking Hyundai Ioniq models, similar experiences have been shared on Twitter, for example David Cao who reports great interest at the Doncaster dealership in Melbourne.

While there has been a delay on the arrival of battery electric models at dealerships due to end-of-year stocktakes (most have had PHEV and hybrids in stock), a salesperson from Hyundai’s Mt Gravatt dealership has confirmed that the first battery electric model will be delivered on site today.