Hyundai has announced the launch of a new Ioniq brand dedicated to battery electric vehicles. Previously it was a model line nameplate.
Under the Ioniq brand, Hyundai will offer customer centric EV experiences centered on connected lifestyle solutions in line with Hyundai's vision of 'Progress for Humanity'.
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The brand will introduce three new models over the next four years with more to follow.
"The creation of Ioniq brand is in response to fast-growing market demand and accelerates Hyundai's plan to lead the global EV market," the automaker said in a statement.
"The Ioniq brand will change the paradigm of EV customer experience," claimed Wonhong Cho, EVP and global chief marketing officer at Hyundai Motor Company. "With a new emphasis on connected living, we will offer electrified experiences integral to an eco-friendly lifestyle."
Hyundai first introduced the term Ioniq, which fuses "ion" and "unique", when it announced Project Ioniq, a long term research and development project focused on eco friendly mobility. Based on the project, in 2016 it introduced a vehicle named Ioniq which offers three electrified powertrain options – hybrid electric, plug-in hybrid and battery electric within a single body type, so far, unique in the industry.
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By GlobalDataNow, said HMC, "Ioniq represents Hyundai's growing commitment to sustainability and innovation and will be instrumental in achieving the company's clean mobility goals".
Hyundai will launch a range of numerically named EVs under the new brand, with the even numbers used for sedans and odd numbers for SUVs.
The first will be the 5 midsize CUV in early 2021, based on the concept 45 which Hyundai unveiled at the 2019 Frankfurt show.
The 6 sedan will follow in 2022, based on the EV Prophecy concept unveiled in March, followed by the 7, a large SUV, in early 2024.
Ioniq brand models will sit on an electric global modular platform, known as E-GMP, that will "enable fast charging capability and plentiful driving range".
The EV-dedicated platform will allow Hyundai to reimagine the vehicle interior as smart living space with highly adjustable seats, wireless connectivity and unique features such as a glove box designed as drawers. User interfaces will be simple, intuitive and ergonomically designed to help occupants feel at ease.
HMG recently announced it aims to sell 1m units BEVs and take a 10% share to become a leader in the global EV field by 2025.
HMC aims to become the world's third largest automaker of eco-friendly vehicles by 2025, with 560,000 BEV sales in addition to FCEVs.
