Electrified Hyundai Ioniq vehicles making their way down under, as manufacturing of model comes to end in Australia
Hyundai Ioniq Bids Farewell Down Under: Last Batch of Units Arrives for Final Customers
After a successful six-year run in Australia, the Hyundai Ioniq is preparing for its final chapter. The last batch of Hyundai Ioniq units is currently arriving in the country, destined for final customers.
The Ioniq, which first debuted in 2016 as a response to the Toyota Prius, has been a significant player in Hyundai's electric range. Since then, the line-up has expanded to include the Santa Fe Hybrid, Kona Electric, and the recently introduced Ioniq 5.
Despite the Ioniq Hybrid, Plug-in Hybrid, and Electric liftbacks being discontinued for the Australian market back in May, a total of 396 units have found homes since then. The Ioniq Electric Elite, one of the most affordable pure battery-electric cars in Australia, alongside the MG ZS EV, BYD Atto 3, and Nissan Leaf, has been particularly popular.
Few dealer demonstrators of the Ioniq are still listed on the classifieds, offering a final opportunity for those who missed out on the new models. The Hyundai spokesperson has confirmed that the remaining units are going to existing customer orders.
The Ioniq's departure from the local market comes as the i30 Sedan-sized liftback officially ended global production in July. This move marks a significant shift in Hyundai's focus towards electric vehicles (EVs).
The Hyundai Ioniq name now lives on with a dedicated EV line-up based on the Electric Global Modular Platform (E-GMP). The Ioniq 5, Ioniq 6, and Ioniq 7 are upcoming vehicles in this line-up, but the exact introduction date for Australia beyond the 2023-2025 model years remains undisclosed.
The outgoing Ioniq Hybrid Premium started at $41,390, the Ioniq Plug-in Premium at $47,950, and the Ioniq Electric Elite at $49,970. The Ioniq Electric Elite offered 311 kilometers of claimed WLTP driving range from its 38.3kWh battery pack.
The Ioniq received a facelift in 2019, but it could not prevent the eventual discontinuation of the models. Hyundai does not currently offer a plug-in hybrid model in Australia, despite having them available on the Tucson and Santa Fe SUVs overseas.
As the Ioniq bids farewell, the Santa Fe Hybrid remains the only hybrid model in Hyundai's Australian line-up, while the Kona Electric is the most affordable pure-electric car. The Hyundai Ioniq 5, the last member of the Ioniq model range available in Australia, is already present on the market and ready to carry the torch for Hyundai's electric future.
