Hyundai Australia has promised to bring “every one” of the global automaker’s new electric vehicles to the local market, including the cheaper Standard Range version of its Kona electric “in coming weeks.”
In comments on the Berejiklian government’s $490 million package of new incentives, tax cuts and spending on new fast-charging infrastructure for electric vehicles, Hyundai Australia CEO John Kett said the company had big plans for Australia.
“The Hyundai Motor Group globally will launch 44 electrified vehicles by 2025 – of those, 23 will be full Battery Electric models. Hyundai Australia’s intention is to introduce every one of Hyundai’s new EVs to the local market,” Kett said.
“We are committed to expanding our EV portfolio across Australia, starting with the new IONIQ 5 SUV later this year and shortly followed by the IONIQ 6 Sedan and IONIQ 7 large SUV. Our aim is to be a leading Australian EV provider.”
Kett said that he believed Hyundai already had the two most efficient EVs on sale in Australia , currently, in the form of Ioniq EV hatch and the Kona Electric small SUV, according to the federal government’s Green Vehicle Guiyde.
“We intend to expand that leadership with the release of the Standard Range version of Kona Electric in the coming weeks,” he said.
As the Driven reported earlier this month, the longer range Hyundai Kona Electric was the only EV out of five tested to match its 449km WLTP range claim, and finished just over the mark at 450km.
The Kona Electric “Standard Range”, as Kett is calling it, has a 39kWh battery, compared to the 64kWh battery in the longer range versions currently available in Australia. That gives it a range of 290 km.
In the UK, the 39kWh model retailed for £30,650, which at today’s exchange rate is around $A56,600. In Australia, the 64kWh Kona Electric currently starts at $A62,000.
When it does arrive in Australia, the lower range Kona Electric will be eligible for both NSW and Victoria’s $3,000 rebates. NSW is also waiving stamp duty on EVs under $78,000, meaning NSW residents who buy the Kona from September onwards will likely save close to $5,000 on what they would end up paying today.