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In a new EPA report, Hyundai ranked second behind only Tesla in lowering CO2 emissions and improving fuel economy.

Hyundai ranks second as fuel economy leader by the EPA

In its new 2023 Automotive Trends Report, the EPA notes average real-world CO2 emissions fell by 10 g/mi to 337 g/mi in MY2022, its lowest ever.

Meanwhile, real-world fuel economy improved by 0.6 to 26 mpg, also a record. The EPA said this is the largest single-year improvement in nine years. Since MY2004, CO2 emissions have decreased by 27%, or 123 g/mi.

Early data suggest emissions and fuel economy will improve further with model year 2023 vehicles.

As EV adoption continues climbing, emissions will continue to fall further as they produce zero tailpipe C02 emissions. On the other hand, large trucks and performance vehicles are the highest emissions producers.

Most automakers have improved new vehicle CO2 emissions and fuel economy over the past few years.

Hyundai-fuel-economy-leader
Changes in Estimated real-world fuel economy and CO2 emissions by manufacturer (Source: EPA)

With an all-electric lineup, Tesla had by far the lowest tailpipe emissions and best fuel economy of all large automakers for MY2022. Hyundai placed second as a fuel economy leader, while Honda and Kia were third and fourth, respectively.

Jeep and Ram owner Stellantis had the highest new vehicle CO2 emissions and lowest fuel economy, followed by GM and Ford.

Hyundai-fuel-economy-leader
(Source: EPA)

According to the report, Hyundai reduced CO2 emissions from 311 g/mi to 302 g/mi between 2018 and 2022. The automaker also improved real-world fuel economy from 28.6 to 29.1 MPG.

Jose Munoz, Hyundai Motor president, commented on the success: “We are leading the way in reducing carbon emissions and increasing fuel efficiency for our customers by continuing the push toward electrification.”

Hyundai-fuel-economy-leader
Hyundai IONIQ 5 (left) and IONIQ 6 (right) at Tesla Supercharger (Source: Hyundai)

Hyundai’s EV sales more than doubled (+103%) over last year with popular models including the IONIQ 5, IONIQ 6, and Kona electric. By 2030, Hyundai plans to launch over 17 new EVs to capture 7% of the market.

Electrek’s Take

It’s not that surprising Hyundai ranks second with unique dedicated EVs like the IONIQ 5 and 6 models.

Hyundai sold a record number of vehicles in the US last year, with nearly 47,000 IONIQ EVs handed over to customers. The company continues investing in more production after breaking ground on its massive $1.5B dedicated EV plant in Ulsan in November. Once up and running in 2026, Hyundai expects to build 200,000 EVs annually.

In the US, Hyundai is fast-tracking the development of its first EV and battery plant. The company said 99.9% of the foundation work was done in October.

With the investments, Hyundai (including Kia and Genesis) aims to be a top three EV maker by 2030.

If you’ve been eyeing Hyundai’s electric vehicles, now could be a great time to shop. We can help you find the best deals on the perfect Hyundai EV at a dealership near you. Check out our links below to get started today.

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Electrify America sweetens the deal for the 2025 Audi Q6 e-tron

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Electrify America sweetens the deal for the 2025 Audi Q6 e-tron

Electrify America and Audi of America are expanding their EV charging partnership to cover the new 2025 Audi Q6 e-tron.

The all-new 2025 Q6 e-tron is Audi‘s latest addition to the e-tron model line-up, which currently includes the Q4 e-tron and e-tron GT. The Audi Q6 e-tron is expected to arrive this summer and will include one year of free Electrify America charging with Plug&Charge capabilities.

Audi Q6 e-tron owners have a year from the date of purchase to use the free Electrify America charging. Owners can enroll to activate the charging benefit via the myAudi App. Drivers can use the app or in-vehicle navigation to locate nearby charging stations, verify charger availability, and navigate to the charging stations.

Electrify America is the first open DC fast-charging network to enable Plug&Charge technology at all its charging stations. To activate Plug&Charge, drivers just need to enroll their EV in Electrify America’s charging plan.

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Click here to find a local dealer that may have the 2025 Audi Q6 e-tron in stock. –trusted affiliate link

Read more: VW finally rolls out Plug&Charge on its 2023 ID.4s


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Rivian’s R1S broke into the top 5 best-selling EVs last month

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Rivian's R1S broke into the top 5 best-selling EVs last month

Rivian (RIVN) is off to a strong start in 2025. The company’s sales surged in February, with the R1S breaking into the top five best-selling EVs in the US. The electric SUV is once again a fan favorite.

Rivian R1S was the fifth top-selling EV in February

Rivian is cementing its status as a true luxury EV brand. After delivering over 51,500 vehicles last year, the company is charging into 2025 with strong momentum.

Although Rivian may not share monthly sales figures, new data from Cox Automotive’s February EV Market Monitor reveals a big win.

According to the report, Rivian’s sales jumped 34% from last February, with over 4,000 vehicles sold. The Rivian R1S was the fifth best-selling EV by sales volume, trailing only the Tesla Model Y, Model 3, Ford Mustang Mach-E, and Honda Prologue.

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Tesla’s sales dipped 10%, with the Cybertruck (-32.5%) and Model 3 (-17.5%) seeing the biggest drops from last year. The Model Y held up better, slipping just 3.1%.

In total, 95,692 EVs were sold last month. Although that’s down 5.9% from January, it was the highest volume for the month of February, up 10.5% from last year.

Rank Model
1 Tesla Model Y
2 Tesla Model 3
3 Ford Mustang Mach-E
4 Honda Prologue
5 Rivian R1S
Top five best-selling EVs in the US February 2025 (Source: Cox Automotive)

Just this week, the Palo Alto Police Department unveiled the first R1S police cruiser, a big milestone as the electric SUV expands into law enforcement.

Rivian expects deliveries to remain about flat this year at around 46,000 to 51,000. However, it’s not because of less demand. The company is shutting down its Normal, IL manufacturing plant in the second half of the year as it prepares to launch the midsize R2.

The company’s CFO, Claire McDonough, confirmed earlier this month that Rivian is “working around the clock” to prepare the facility for R2 production.

We got a sneak peek of it earlier this week as it nears production after CEO RJ Scaringe posted a photo of the R2 body with production dies.

The R2 will open a new market for Rivian, with prices starting at around $45,000, or about half the cost of its current R1S ($77,700) and R1T ( $71,700). Although it will be significantly cheaper, the company promises it won’t be half the vehicle with the “Rivian essence” still included.

After cutting R1S lease prices by over $200 per month in February, the Rivian’s electric SUV may be an even better deal than the Model Y. Will it continue closing the gap this year?

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The Kia EV2 is real: Here’s our first look at the low-cost EV on the road [Video]

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The Kia EV2 is real: Here's our first look at the low-cost EV on the road [Video]

Kia is gearing up to launch its smallest, most affordable EV yet. Despite its small size, Kia promises the EV2 has “a big personality” with its latest tech, features, and sleek new design. Here’s our first look at the Kia EV2 after it was spotted in public testing for the first time.

Kia EV2 spotted testing in Korea for the first time

The EV2 is Kia’s upcoming entry-level electric SUV, slated to sit below the EV3. We got our first look at it last month after Kia unveiled the EV2 concept, a preview of the upcoming production model.

It was showcased alongside the EV4 and PV5 as part of Kia’s rapidly expanding EV lineup. Kia wants to offer “EVs for all,” with prices ranging from under $30,000 to upwards of $80,000.

According to Kia, the EV2 is designed to make “electric vehicles truly accessible for everyone.” It features the brand’s updated styling, including its signature vertical daytime running lights (DRLs) and Star Map lightning.

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Although it’s Kia’s smallest electric SUV, the EV2s upright stance, wide wheel arches, and rugged bumpers give it a more premium feel, almost like the three-row EV9.

Kia didn’t stop here. With folding second-row seats, you can slide the front seat back as far as possible, providing a comfortable space when parked. Kia says it’s enough to stretch your legs or even “sit on the vehicle’s flat floor to enjoy a meal.”

The entry-level electric SUV will be loaded with advanced software, connectivity, and other tech, including vehicle-to-load (V2L) capabilities to power up electronics or home appliances. With OTA updates, the EV2 will only get smarter and more functional over time.

Kia EV2 spotted on the road testing in Korea for the first time (Source: HealerTV)

Ahead of its official launch, the compact electric SUV was spotted in Korea on the road testing for the first time. The video from HealerTV gives us our closest look at the EV2 as it nears production.

Like its other EV concepts, the EV2 will look almost identical to the concept when it arrives in production form. From the side, it almost looks like the Kia Soul with a boxy silhouette. Despite the camouflage, the rear gives the same impression with similar proportions to the concept.

The EV2 will also likely include Kia’s new ccNC infotainment system, which features dual 12.3″ driver display and navigation screens.

Kia plans to launch the EV2 in Europe “and other regions” in 2026. Although prices and specs will be revealed closer to launch, the electric SUV, based on Hyundai’s E-GMP platform, is expected to feature at least 300 miles (605 km) WLTP range.

Kia’s CEO told Autocar it aims to launch the EV2 at around £25,000 ($32,000) in the UK. However, that was in 2023. With battery advancements and more, prices could be even lower now.

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