South Korean carmaker Hyundai has unveiled its latest new energy vehicle (NEV) strategy for China, dubbed ‘In China, For China, To Global’, with the launch of a new electric SUV, the Elexio, which will also launch in Australia early next year.
The Elexio was unveiled at an event in Yantai late last week by its Chinese joint venture Beijing Hyundai.
Boasting over 500 kilometres of range (WLTP) from an 88.1kWh battery, the Elexio is built on the company’s E-GMP platform, features what Hyundai describes in typical auto-PR-speak as a “bold, premium design with clean lines, restrained proportions and crystal-square headlights.”
Hyundai says that the Elexio has been designed for families, and as such is built with a 720° armoured body structure, including 77.5 per cent high-strength steel content and an advanced nine-airbag system which features extended side curtain airbags. Automatic pop-out mechanical door handles also provide immediate emergency access.
A 506-litre boot can be expanded to 1,540-litres and a reported 46 “flexible storage areas” should provide ample space for even the most obsessive packers. A Dolby Atmos audio system comes as standard with an eight-speaker Bose speaker system, while health monitoring and fatigue detection have been integrated to enhance safety and comfort for all occupants.
Up front, a 27-inch ultra-thin 4K widescreen display is powered by a Qualcomm 8295 chip, and a Cyber Eye heads-up display (HUD) provides the driver with impressive readability with a 30,000:1 contrast ratio, enhancing safety under various lighting conditions.
Separately, a Snapdragon 8295 chip powers advanced AI capabilities and multi-screen functionality for an intuitive user experience.
“This is a dedicated EV tailor-made for Chinese consumers, and the first model developed by Hyundai under the guidance of our ‘In China, For China, To Global’ strategy,” said Ickkyun Oh, Head of China Business Division at Hyundai Motor Company.
But while the Elexio has been made in China and for Chinese customers, Hyundai said it intended to bring the Elexio to Australia in early 2026. Specifications and pricing for Australia will be revealed closer to launch.
Joshua S. Hill is a Melbourne-based journalist who has been writing about climate change, clean technology, and electric vehicles for over 15 years. He has been reporting on electric vehicles and clean technologies for Renew Economy and The Driven since 2012. His preferred mode of transport is his feet.