Hyundai’s new three-row electric SUV is set to debut later than expected. Although Hyundai was expected to launch the IONIQ 9 this summer, it looks like we may have to wait a little longer.
When will Hyundai launch the IONIQ 9?
Hyundai unveiled its first three-row electric SUV at the LA 2021 auto show. It was initially called the SEVEN concept, indicating it would join Hyundai’s lineup as the IONIQ 7.
However, earlier this year, reports surfaced that Hyundai planned to call it the IONIQ 9. The name change is more than a number. As the number “9,” the new electric SUV is expected to be Hyundai’s new flagship model.
Although the IONIQ 9 was expected to launch this summer at the Busan Motor Show, Hyundai is now looking toward the end of the year.
New reports from South Korea claim Hyundai is still testing the electric SUV. Hyundai wants to ensure the model is perfect before it hits the market.
Leading up to its debut, Hyundai’s IONIQ 9 has been spotted several times testing in public. In April, we got a good look at the big-bodied electric SUV after it was caught testing in California. You can see from the video the IONIQ 9 is much bigger than Hyundai’s IONIQ 5.
Last August, the IONIQ 9 was spotted next to Kia’s EV9. The reporter said Hyundai’s IONIQ 9 was “fuller” up front and less boxy than the EV9.
Kia’s three-row EV9 is off to a hot start in the US, with 9,671 deliveries through the first half of 2024. Meanwhile, Hyundai continued its hot streak in Q2 with record IONIQ 5 and IONIQ 6 sales in the US.
In a recent interview, Hyundai Motor America CEO Randy Parker told Electrek that the company is giving buyers the confidence to go electric with long-range, fast-charging EVs at an affordable price.
The 2024 Hyundai IONIQ 5 is already more affordable to lease than the cheapest car in America (2024 Nissan Versa), starting at $229 per month.
Hyundai is pushing back the IONIQ 9 launch to ensure the new EV is up to standard. Check back soon for more on Hyundai’s new flagship EV.
Source: TheKoreanCarBlog