This year, the number of new electric vehicle registrations in the domestic market reached over 33,000 in the first quarter, marking a 31% increase from just over 25,000 during the same period last year. The total number of new vehicle registrations during this time remained around 400,000, indicating that the share of electric vehicles has grown. Hyundai's electric vehicle sales for the first quarter also showed a significant increase, reaching over 13,000 units, which is about 64.5% higher than the 6,900 units sold in the same period last year.
The popular small SUV, the Casper Electric entry model, which launched in August last year, continued its success with sales of over 2,400 units. The flagship electric large SUV, the Ioniq 9, released in February, sold over 960 units. Sales of Hyundai's representative compact SUV electric vehicle, the Ioniq 5, increased by 25.8% compared to the same period last year, reaching over 2,600 units.
Meanwhile, Hyundai Motor Company has launched the 2025 Ioniq 5 electric vehicle and Kona Electric after undergoing a model change, officially starting sales. They have included popular safety and convenience features as standard while minimizing price increases to enhance overall product value.
For the 2025 Ioniq, the standard entry trim, E-Value Plus, now comes with auto flush door handles as standard equipment. The exclusive trim offers a power-adjustable passenger seat, while the prestige trim includes heated seats for the rear passengers as standard.
Hyundai also introduced a Parking Assist Light Package, which includes parking convenience features like a surround view monitor and a rear blind spot monitor. The Parking Assist Package costs 800,000 KRW, and customers must first purchase a style package, priced at 1.3 million KRW, which includes LED lights and door side chrome molding. The N-Line specifications, previously available only for the prestige trim, are now also available for the exclusive trim.
The price for the 2025 Ioniq 5 starts at 47.4 million KRW for the E-Value Plus trim and 50.3 million KRW for the exclusive trim, both equipped with a 63 kWh battery. The starting prices for both trims increased by 400,000 KRW.
As before, customers can opt for the Comfort Plus Package at 1 million KRW, while the Style and Parking Assist Light Packages are available as optional extras. Previously, the exclusive trim could only add the Parking Assist Package for 1.5 million KRW, but now it can also choose the more affordable Parking Assist Light Package. To add the Parking Assist feature, customers must purchase the Style Package, just like with the entry trim.
The 2025 Ioniq 5 Long Range model, equipped with an 85 kWh battery, has prices set at 54.5 million KRW for the exclusive trim, 56.5 million KRW for the exclusive N-Line, 59.15 million KRW for the prestige, and 60.25 million KRW for the prestige N-Line. The exclusive trim increased by 400,000 KRW, while both the prestige and prestige N-Line trims rose by 300,000 KRW each.
The 2025 Kona Electric has enhanced its appeal by including advanced safety features as standard in the entry trim, such as rear cross-traffic collision warning, rear cross-traffic collision avoidance assist, and safe exit warning. Customers can add the Comfort Choice Package, which includes synthetic leather seats and heated and ventilated front seats, when purchasing the entry trim E-Value Plus.
According to Hyundai, the prices for the 2025 Kona Electric start at 41.52 million KRW for the E-Value Plus standard model and 43.57 million KRW for the premium model, with increases of 100,000 KRW and 50,000 KRW, respectively. The long-range model is priced at 45.66 million KRW for the modern plus, 46.57 million KRW for the premium, and 49.99 million KRW for the inspiration model. The modern plus trim remains unchanged in price, while the premium trim increased by 50,000 KRW. The inspiration and top-tier inspiration N-Line maintain their previous pricing.
