HYUNDAI has now accomplished the roll-out of its all-new Kona vary in Australia, with hybrid and absolutely electrical fashions becoming a member of the inner combustion-powered vary from this month.
The broadened availability of latest vitality fashions means the Kona now presents extra option to consumers than ever earlier than, alongside higher tools, know-how and security inclusions that arrive normal as a part of the all-new vary.
Curiously, Hyundai Motor Firm Australia (HMCA) believes the extent of selection provided to consumers throughout the new Hyundai Kona vary will see a change in buyer perceptions, that means extra Kona prospects will go for hybrid and electrical powertrains.
Chatting with GoAuto on the launch of the Kona Electrical final month, HMCA chief working officer John Kett mentioned that as extra consumers look towards obtainable new vitality choices, the flexibility for Hyundai to supply custom combustion energy alongside hybrid and battery electrical fashions is one that can see Kona gross sales improve.
“Two months into launching the hybrid we have been operating at a 70:30 cut up between ICE and hybrid gross sales. This quantity is predicated solely on personal gross sales, as we’ve not finished any fleet offers at this cut-off date” he outlined.
“Clearly we began at 100 per cent ICE till the hybrid went on sale, and that shift has already gone to 70:30, and I believe it would transfer to 60:40 together with the ten per cent of consumers who will go for absolutely electrical.
“We expect a major improve in Kona gross sales general with the arrival of the brand new mannequin. There isn’t any doubt in our thoughts that it’s a 15,000 to 18,000 (unit) kind of portfolio for us, and we predict EV fashions might be 10 per cent of that (quantity).”
Mr Kett mentioned that pre-orders for the Kona Hybrid and Electrical have exceeded expectations, with consumers choosing a barely bigger mannequin that fulfils most of the duties provided beforehand by the i30 hatch.
“Pre-orders have been effectively above the place we initially anticipated, and the Kona may even have a job to play in filling (quantity) between the departure of the PD-series i30 and the European-sourced i30 which comes right here within the third quarter of this yr,” he mentioned.
“This product (Kona) has to do the heavy lifting, and that’s one thing we’re consistently occupied with – it will be significant that we get the worth and positioning of the mannequin proper.”
Since making the feedback, HMCA has now priced its complete Kona line-up for Australia, the electrical mannequin vary starting at $54,000 – or $4800 greater than the earlier Kona Electrical.
Based mostly on Mr Kett’s forecasts, it’s anticipated the Kona Electrical will promote someplace within the neighborhood of 1800 items yearly, with the rest cut up between ICE (11,340) and HEV (4860).
The general quantity represents a year-on-year improve of just about 7000 items over the mannequin’s 2023 gross sales tally.
The latest full-year gross sales complete for the Hyundai Kona reveals it is among the hottest sellers within the Small SUV underneath $45K phase with a tally of 11,183 items gross sales for the 2023 calendar yr.
The Kona was crushed by the MG ZS (29,258 unit gross sales), Mazda CX-30 (13,115), and GWM Haval Jolion (11,252), however positioned forward of the Kia Seltos (10,473), Mitsubishi ASX (9176), Subaru Crosstrek (8991), Volkswagen T-Roc (8943) and Toyota Corolla Cross (7932).
Go to GoAuto once more quickly for our native launch evaluate of the 2024 Hyundai Kona Electrical.