In accordance with a report from The Korea Financial Every day, Hyundai and Kia are set to launch a brand new product offensive in response to the present slowdown within the auto trade and impending tariffs from the U.S. The 2 manufacturers plan to roll out 35 new and refreshed merchandise by 2026, together with smaller, extra reasonably priced electrical autos.
Hyundai is creating a compact electrical hatchback, internally often known as ‘BJ1,’ focusing on a showroom debut in August 2026. Notably, the report clarifies that the BJ1 is not going to be an electrical model of the i20; slightly, the latter will stay a separate mannequin supposed for the South American market, with transport anticipated to start out within the first half of the 12 months.
The BJ1 could also be designed particularly for European prospects, whereas the electrical i20 may function a extra budget-friendly, inner combustion engine-converted choice for rising markets. In March, Hyundai introduced plans to start EV manufacturing at its İzmit plant in Turkey in 2026, the place it presently manufactures the i10, i20, and Bayon. The BJ1 might characterize a aggressive providing in opposition to the VW ID.2.
Shortly after Hyundai’s announcement, L’argus reported that the primary electrical mannequin from the İzmit plant can be a B-segment hatchback constructed on Kia’s EV2 platform, seemingly referring to the BJ1.
Hyundai plans to equip the BJ1 with LFP and NMC battery packs, offering a variety of 300 to over 400 km based mostly on WLTP requirements. Moreover, the corporate intends to introduce one other devoted EV, codenamed ‘HE1i,’ in 2026, which will probably be based mostly on an E-GMP (Ok) platform and launched in India in the course of the latter half of the 12 months.
In the meantime, Kia goals to boost its price range EV lineup with two new fashions. Manufacturing of the Euro-focused EV2 is slated to start in February 2026, with dealership shipments doable by spring. In April, Kia is ready to unveil an electrical model of the Syros, a small SUV aimed on the Indian market.
On a world scale, Kia plans to supply a broad vary of 15 EV fashions by 2030. Nonetheless, because of a current decline in demand, the corporate has lower its 2030 annual EV gross sales goal from 1.6 million items to 1.26 million. In distinction, Hyundai is pursuing extra formidable objectives, aiming for 21 totally different EV fashions and annual gross sales of two million items by the tip of the last decade.
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