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Hyundai unveils IONIQ 9, a three-row electric SUV with over 300 miles of range
Hyundai Motor unveiled its first three-row electric SUV, the IONIQ 9, on Wednesday, marking its entry into the growing market for large family EVs. Set to launch in the United States and South Korea in early 2025, the IONIQ 9 boasts a range of over 300 miles on a single charge, with subsequent launches planned for Europe and other regions.
They have now become the favorite vehicle for families, rather than taking the tag of minivans and station wagons. They are perfect for road trips, with excellent space for both passengers and cargo. Most electric vehicles still face profitability issues since the cost of batteries is too high. However, there is hope for such large electric models developed by car makers to turn into the most profitable segment in the future with better technology.
Hyundai follows a step that is identical to what other global competitors like General Motors, Lucid, Volvo, and VinFast are planning to do, all of whom are launching electric three-row SUVs. The electric trio forms part of the broader approach to satisfy customers who require both sustainability and practicality.
Sam Fiorani, vice president at Auto Forecast Solutions, noted that EV models with big batteries to support the storage of three-row SUVs challenge their designers on how to make them travel enough miles for long journeys. Despite these challenges, automakers are entering the three-row EV market just to keep their loyal customers from jumping ship to competitors.
Hyundai has priced the IONIQ 9 around the same level as its Kia EV9 counterpart, which starts at $55,000. Yet Hyundai hasn't officially confirmed the actual price. It will get fast charging, so one can charge the battery from 10 percent to 80 percent in only 24 minutes using high-capacity stations, and it supports Tesla's Supercharger network.
Despite challenges like higher prices and range limitations, analysts are optimistic about the future of three-row EVs, forecasting sales to more than double to 150,000 units by 2025.
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