Hyundai has introduced the Elexio, its latest electric SUV designed specifically for the Chinese market. The Elexio is the result of a five-year development process by Beijing Hyundai, a joint venture between Hyundai and BAIC Motor established in 2002. This fully electric vehicle marks Hyundai’s first dedicated EV engineered for China.
Design and Features
The Elexio’s design deviates from Hyundai’s usual Ioniq branding, featuring a more rounded appearance compared to the Ioniq 5. Low-resolution images shared on Weibo show the SUV with distinctive four-point cube headlights, considered a nod to the number 8, which is deemed lucky in China. The vehicle’s rear pillar is finished in a contrasting color that extends to the rear spoiler, and it appears to lack a visible rear wiper, suggesting it might be hidden under the roof spoiler.
Other notable features include:
- Flush door handles to improve aerodynamic efficiency
- Chunky roof rails
- Large two-tone wheels
- A nearly flat roofline indicating spacious rear headroom
- Glossy black accents on the wheel arches above the flared fenders
Background and Significance
The Elexio is part of Hyundai’s strategy to revamp its presence in China, where the company has faced challenges. Hyundai’s deliveries in China dropped significantly from 1.16 million units in 2016 to 151,000 last year. Despite these struggles, Hyundai is investing $1.1 billion, shared equally with BAIC, to boost EV development. The company operates two R&D centers in China, focused on developing new electric models tailored for the local market.
Future Plans
Technical specifications and pricing for the Elexio are expected to be released later this year. This move is part of Hyundai’s broader efforts to adapt to the Chinese market, following in the footsteps of other global automakers like Toyota and Audi, who have also introduced China-specific models recently.
