After a record 2023, Hyundai and Kia are not slowing down this year. With new tariffs on Chinese EVs, Hyundai and Kia look to gain an edge over their overseas rivals. The tailwind comes as the South Korean automakers are launching affordable EVs in key global markets, including the US.
Strong demand in the US, Europe, and India fueled the growth. In the US, Hyundai shattered its sales record for the third year in a row. According to Goldman Sachs (via Wall Street Journal), Hyundai sold over 800,000 vehicles, accounting for over 10% of the US market.
Much of the growth is thanks to rising demand for Hyundai’s electric models. Hyundai sold nearly 34,000 IONIQ 5 models last year in the US, up 48% YOY. The IONIQ 5 was the sixth best-selling EV in the US last year, topping the Rivian R1S and Ford F-150 Lightning.
Hyundai already sold nearly 15,000 IONIQ 5 models (+43% YOY) through the first five months of 2024 after setting a new monthly sales record in May.
2024 Hyundai IONIQ 5 (Source: Hyundai)
Despite rivals like Ford and GM pulling back on EV plans, Hyundai and Kia remain focused on closing the gap with Tesla.
“For now, electric vehicles are the top priority,” Hyundai Motor Group CEO Chang Jae-hoon said earlier this month.
Hyundai IONIQ 5 (left) and IONIQ 6 (right) at Tesla Supercharger (Source: Hyundai)
Gaining ground in the US
The comments came as Hyundai is finishing up construction on its first EV and battery plant in the US. The $7.6 billion Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America (HMGMA) in Georgia is expected to be up and running by the end of the year.
Randy Parker, Hyundai’s North American boss, has a similar view. Parker told Electrek in a recent interview that Hyundai is “humble and hungry” to distance itself from the EV pack (you can read the full interview here).
(Source: Boston Consulting Group)
Hyundai and Kia already have some of the most affordable and fuel-efficient EVs on the market, including the IONIQ 5, IONIQ 6, and Kia EV6.
Parker said Hyundai is giving buyers the confidence to go electric with long-range, fast-charging EVs at an affordable price.
2024 Kia EV6 GT (Source: Kia)
Once its Georgia EV plant opens, Hyundai expects the momentum to increase. Hyundai electric cars produced at the facility are expected to qualify for the $7,500 EV tax credit, which will fuel momentum in 2025.
Hyundai’s new 2025 IONIQ 5 will be the first vehicle to roll off the assembly line as the automaker looks to a new era.
2024 Hyundai IONIQ 6 Limited (Source: Hyundai)
Hyundai and Kia are launching affordable, efficient EVs
Although Hyundai and Kia already have some of the most affordable EVs available, lower-priced models are coming.
Kia opened orders for its EV3 in Korea earlier this month, starting at $30,700 (KRW 42.08 million). The EV3 is the first of Kia’s new low-cost electric car line-up priced from $30,000 to $50,000.
Kia EV3 GT-Line (Source: Kia)
The EV3 is expected to launch in the US with starting prices around $30,000 to $35,000, which would make it among the cheapest EV options (based on Q1 average selling price) next to the Nissan LEAF ($27,956), Nissan Ariya ($35,556), and Hyundai IONIQ 6 ($36,506).
Kia is launching the EV4 next year, its take on an entry-level electric sedan (see the EV4 spotted out in public). The EV4 is expected to start at around $35,000.
Kia EV lineup from left to right: EV6, EV4, EV5, EV3, EV9 (Source: Kia)
Meanwhile, Hyundai is teasing a new low-cost EV, the Casper Electric, ahead of its debut later this week.
The Casper Electric is based on the gas-powered Casper, sold in Korea. In Europe, the Casper will be called the Inster EV. It will have up to 315 km (196 miles) range in Korea and 355 km (221 miles) WLTP range.
Hyundai INSTER EV (Casper Electric) teaser image (Source: Hyundai Motor)
Hynudai’s new electric car is expected to start under $27,000 (25,000 euro) in Europe. However, Hyundai has not announced whether the new EV will launch in the US.
With new tariffs on Chinese EVs in the US and Europe, Hyundai and Kia will likely gain momentum into 2025.
While it waits for its GA plant to open, Hyundai introduced a new $7,500 incentive for EV buyers this month. All 2024 Hyundai EVs are eligible for an up to $7,500 featured cash offer.
If you’re in the market for a new EV, now may be the perfect time to start shopping with some of the lowest prices available so far. You can use our links below to view deals on Hyundai and Kia EV models at a dealer near you.
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Most Wall Street analysts covering Tesla’s stock (TSLA) badly misread the automaker’s delivery volumes this quarter. Some of them have started releasing notes to clients following Tesla’s production and delivery results.
Here’s what they have to say:
According to Tesla-compiled analyst consensus, the automaker was expected to report “377,592 deliveries” in the first quarter.
Truist Securities maintained its hold rating on Tesla’s stock, but it greatly lowered its price target from $373 to $280 a share. They insist that while their earnings expectations have crashed because they overestimated deliveries, investors should focus on Tesla’s self-driving effort, which they see as “much more important for the long-term value of the stock.”
Goldman Sachs lowered its price target from $320 to $275 a share. The firm expected 375,000 deliveries from Tesla in Q1 and therefore had to adjust its earnings expectations with almost 40,000 fewer deliveries.
Wedbush‘s Dan Ives, one of Tesla’s biggest cheerleaders, called the delivery results “disastrous”, but he reiterated his $550 price target on Tesla’s stock.
UBS has reiterated its $225 price target which it had lowered last month after adjusting its delivery expectations in Q1 to 367,000 – one of the more accurate predictions on Wall Street.
CFRA‘s analyst Garrett Nelson reduced his price target from $385 to $360 a share.
Electrek’s Take
I find it funny that most of them are maintaining or barely changing their expectations after they were so wrong about Tesla in Q1.
If you were so wrong in Q1, you should expect to be incorrect also for the rest of the year, and readjust accordingly.
But Cantor is invested in Tesla, and the firm is owned by Elon’s friend, who happens to now be the secretary of commerce. Truist still believes Elon’s self-driving lies, Goldman Sachs overestimated Tesla’s deliveries by the equivalent of $2 billion in revenues, and Dan Ives is Dan Ives.
Covering Tesla over the last 15 years has confirmed to me that most Wall Street analysts have no idea what they are doing – or at least not when it comes to companies like Tesla.
Do you know any who have been consistently good lately? I’d love suggestions in the comment section below.
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The global market rout on Thursday, sparked by President Donald Trump’s announcement of widespread tariffs, had an outsized effect on fintech companies and credit card issuers that are closely tied to consumer spending and credit.
Affirm, which offers buy now, pay later purchasing options, plunged 19%, while stock trading app Robinhood slid 10% and payments company PayPal fell 8%. American Express and Capital One each tumbled 10%, and Discover was down more than 8%.
President Trump on Wednesday laid out the U.S. “reciprocal tariff” rates that more than 180 countries and territories, including European Union members, will face under his sweeping new trade policy. Trump said his plan will set a 10% baseline tariff across the board, but that number is much higher for some countries.
The announcement sent stocks reeling, wiping out nearly $2 trillion in value from the S&P 500, and pushing the tech-heavy Nasdaq down 6%, its worst day since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020.
The sell-off was especially notable for companies most exposed to consumer spending and global supply chains, including payment providers and lenders. Fintech companies that rely on transaction volume or installment-based lending could see both revenue and credit performance deteriorate.
“When you go down the spectrum, that’s when you have more cyclical risk, more exposure to tariffs,” said Sanjay Sakhrani, an analyst at Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, citing PayPal and Affirm as businesses at risk. He said bigger companies in the space “are more defensive” and better positioned.
Dan Dolev, an analyst at Mizuho, said bank processors such as Fiserv are less exposed to tariff volatility.
“It’s considered a safe haven,” he said.
Affirm executives have previously said rising prices might increase demand for their products. Chief Financial Officer Rob O’Hare said higher prices could push more consumers toward buy now, pay later services.
“If tariffs result in higher prices for consumers, we’re there to help,” O’Hare said at a Stocktwits fireside chat last month. Affirm CEO Max Levchin has offered similar comments.
However, James Friedman, an analyst at SIG, told CNBC that delinquencies become a concern. He compared Affirm to private-label store cards, and pointed to historical trends in credit performance during downturns, noting that “private label delinquency rates run roughly double” in a recession when compared to traditional credit cards.
“You have to look at who’s overexposed to discretionary,” he said.
Affirm did not provide a comment but pointed to recent remarks from its executives.
Wait, Mazda sells a real EV? It’s only in China for now, but that will change very soon. The first Mazda 6e built for overseas markets rolled off the assembly line Thursday. Mazda’s new EV will arrive in Europe, Southeast Asia, and other overseas markets later this year. This could be the start of something with a new SUV due out next.
Mazda’s new EV rolls off assembly for overseas markets
The Mazda EZ-6 has been on sale in China since October with prices starting as low as 139,800 yuan, or slightly under $20,000.
Earlier this year, Mazda introduced the 6e, the global version of its electric car sold in China. The stylish electric sedan is made by Changan Mazda, Mazda’s joint venture in China.
After the first Mazda 6e model rolled off the production line at the company’s Nanjing Plant, Mazda said it’s ready to “conquer the new era of electrification with China Smart Manufacturing.”
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The new global “6e” model will be built at Changan Mazda’s plant and exported to overseas markets including Europe, Thailand, and other parts of Southeast Asia.
Mazda calls it “both a Chinese car and a global car,” with Changan’s advanced EV tech and Mazda’s signature design.
Mazda 6e electric sedan during European debut (Source: Changan Mazda)
Built on Changan’s hybrid platform, the EZ-6 is offered in China with both electric (EV) and extended-range (EREV) powertrains. The EV version has a CLTC driving range of up to 600 km (372 miles) and can fast charge (30% to 80%) in about 15 minutes.
Mazda’s new EV will be available with two battery options in Europe: 68.8 kWh or 80 kWh. The larger (80 kWh) battery gets up to 552 km (343 miles) WLTP range, while the 68.8 kWh version is rated with up to 479 km (300 miles) range on the WLTP rating scale.
At 4,921 mm long, 1,890 mm wide, and 1,491 mm tall, the Mazda 6e is about the size of a Tesla Model 3 (4,720 mm long, 1,922 mm wide, and 1,441 mm tall).
Mazda said the successful rollout of the 6e kicks off “the official launch of Changan Mazda’s new energy vehicle export center” for global markets.
The company will launch a new SUV next year and plans to introduce a third and fourth new energy vehicle (NEV).
Although prices will be announced closer to launch, Mazda’s global EV will not arrive with the same $20,000 price tag in Europe as it will face tariffs as an export from China. Mazda is expected to launch the 6e later this year in Europe and Southeast Asia. Check back soon for more info.
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