Hyundai Motor Group, including Kia and Genesis, is taking the US EV market by storm this year. After reaching double-digit market share, Hyundai continued closing the gap with Tesla as the second-largest EV brand in the US through July.
Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis take second in US EV market
Through the first seven months of 2024, Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis accounted for 10% of the US EV market. Hyundai outpaced Ford (7.4%) and GM (6.3%), according to Motor Intelligence.
Tesla’s share of the US EV market slipped below 50% for the first time in the second quarter. Tesla accounted for 49.7% of EV sales in the US in Q2 as new models hit the market.
Although IONIQ 5 and 6 sales slipped last month, they are still up 25% and 54% year-to-date, respectively. Meanwhile, sister company Kia continued its record-setting performance in July after EV sales nearly doubled YTD.
Kia’s new EV9, its first three-row electric SUV, is a major part of its growth. According to Kelley Blue Book, Kia EV9 sales outpaced the Toyota bZ4X, VW ID.4, Nissan Ariya, Rivian R1T, and Tesla Model S in the US through the first half of 2024. It even topped Kia’s Niro EV sales.
Hyundai’s luxury brand, Genesis, remains a dark horse in the US EV market. Genesis is quickly expanding in the US.
After adding 21 dedicated retailers in the US this year, including in eight new states, Genesis recently announced it now has 56 standalone facilities.
“In two short years, Genesis’ retail footprint has grown rapidly from one dedicated retail facility in Louisiana to 56 retail facilities nationwide,” Genesis North America COO Claudia Marquez said.
Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis continue gaining ground in the US with some of the most affordable, fuel-efficient EVs on the market. Hyundai and Kia account for eight of the top ten most fuel-efficient EVs in the US in 2024.
Hyundai Motor and its suppliers are investing heavily in the US, its largest sales market (North America). The company is opening its Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America (HMGMA) later this year in Georgia.
Hyundai invested around $7.6 billion, creating around 8,500 jobs. However, with its suppliers, the Metaplant is expected to attract over $12.6 billion in funding.
According to the Center for Automotive Research (CAR), it’s also expected to establish over 50,000 new positions in the state.
Georgia awarded the automaker with its own “Hyundai Day” on February 26, 2024. Hyundai has been fast-tracking construction to enable EVs made at the plant to qualify for the $7,500 tax credit.
Hyundai has been passing the credit on through leasing, which accounts for 60% of its EV lineup. Although the battery portion with LG Energy Solution isn’t expected to come online until the end of 2025, Hyundai is expected to source batteries from its Hungary plant in the meantime.
A second battery plant with SK On in Bartow County, GA, will supply batteries for Hyundai’s Montogomery, AL, where the Genesis Electrified GV70 is built, and Kia’s West Point plant, where the new EV9 is built.
Kia began EV9 production in GA in May. It will be the first model to qualify for the credit, with deliveries of the US-made EV9 set for October.
Until then, Kia is offering massive discounts on the EV9. According to Motor Intelligence, Kia EV9 discounts reached over $18,000 in June.
The Metplant is expected to open its doors in October. Hyundai’s new updated 2025 IONIQ 5 will be the first to roll off assembly.
Hyundai is also expected to unveil its first three-row electric SUV, the IONIQ 9. The larger Hyundai electric SUV is expected to be built at the facility to qualify for the EV tax credit.
Meanwhile, Genesis is also preparing to launch its flagship electric SUV. The ultra-luxury Genesis GV90 is expected to expand the brand upward to rival Rolls Royce and Bentley.
With new models rolling out and the Metaplant opening later this year, Hyundai will be a brand to keep an eye on in 2025.
Leading electric vehicle analyst, author, and industry thought leaders Loren McDonald and Bill Ferro stop by Quick Charge to discuss EV Adoption’s acquisition by Paren, the “crisis” of EV charging reliability, and the real state of the EV market.
Depending on who you listen, EVs are either driving brands to record growth and are about cross that critical 10% of the overall market nationwide, or the future is bleak, the market is down, and EVs just aren’t selling. What’s really going on? Loren and Bill (probably) have some answers.
Today’s episode is sponsored by BLUETTI, a leading provider of portable power stations, solar generators, and energy storage systems. For a limited time, save up to 52% during BLUETTI’s exclusive Black Friday sale, now through November 28, and be sure to use promo code BLUETTI5OFF for 5% off all power stations site wide. Click here to learn more.
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Chevy EV owners in Texas who have Reliant as their electric utility can now charge for free at night with renewable energy.
Over 150 Chevrolet dealerships across Texas are now offering the Reliant Free Charge Nights plan to new EV buyers. With Free Charge Nights, customers can offset their charging costs by receiving credits for electricity used between 11 pm and 6 am. The plan is powered entirely by renewable energy, thanks to the purchase of renewable energy certificates (RECs).
Rasesh Patel, president of NRG Consumer, says the plan is about making power personal: “We’re excited to help Chevrolet EV drivers offset the cost of charging their vehicle all while having access to a renewable electricity plan.”
This collaboration aims to make EV adoption more appealing by making charging cheaper and greener. GM Energy’s chief revenue officer, Aseem Kapur, emphasized that partnerships like this help build the ecosystem needed to support an all-electric future: “The Reliant Free Charge Nights plan is a great example of how an automaker and an energy company can work together to make EV adoption an easy decision.”
Existing Reliant customers can also sign up for the Free Charge Nights plan. To get started, Chevrolet EV owners need to designate their vehicle on the GM Energy Smart Charging Portal before enrolling in the plan.
Reliant Energy, a subsidiary of NRG Energy, serves over 1.5 million customers in Texas, making it one of the largest electricity providers in the state.
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Texas is about to get a major power boost – a new AI-powered virtual power plant (VPP) delivering capacity equivalent to 200,000 homes during peak demand.
NRG Energy is teaming up with Renew Home to bring nearly 1 gigawatt (GW) of capacity to the Texas grid by 2035, aiming to make it more resilient while helping residents save on energy costs.
The new VPP will rely on hundreds of thousands of smart thermostats and other connected home devices, making use of AI technology provided by Google Cloud. These devices, like Vivint and Nest smart thermostats, will be offered to eligible customers at no cost. By automating HVAC adjustments, they help shift energy use to when electricity is cheaper, cleaner, and less strained.
NRG and Renew Home have big plans for the VPP. Starting in spring 2025, the companies plan to roll out the program across Texas, installing these smart thermostats in homes served by NRG’s retail electricity providers. Eventually, they plan to add home battery storage and EVs to expand the power plant’s capabilities.
Texas has faced record-breaking energy demands, with peak usage hitting 85 GW in 2023. As the state’s population grows and extreme weather becomes more frequent, VPPs like this one could play a key role in stabilizing the grid. VPPs aggregate a lot of small-scale energy resources, from smart thermostats to home batteries, and use them to help balance supply and demand during times of high stress on the grid.
This nearly 1 GW VPP will be one of the largest of its kind in Texas. NRG’s president of consumer operations, Rasesh Patel, calls it a “pivotal step” for improving customer experience while making Texas’ energy infrastructure more sustainable and resilient.
In addition to Renew Home, NRG is working with Google Cloud to maximize the power plant’s effectiveness. Google Cloud’s AI and analytics tools will help predict weather conditions, forecast renewable generation, and optimize energy usage, all of which will help make energy management smoother for both customers and the grid.
Ben Brown, CEO of Renew Home, said:
NRG’s commitment to creating a more resilient and sustainable energy future while also making electricity bills more affordable makes them an ideal partner for co-developing this unique VPP program.
This initiative raises the bar for future-proofing our electricity infrastructure and delivering cost savings to customers.
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