Despite ongoing war in Ukraine, is Hyundai positioning for return to Russia?
Despite pulling out of the Russian market in a response to that nation’s invasion of Ukraine, new trademark filings and a buyback option on its shuttered factory are raising eyebrows. Is Hyundai headed for a Russian return?
Hyundai joined most Western automakers in pulling out of the Russian market, and officially “left” the market in December of 2023, issuing one of the shortest, emotionally neutral-est press releases in recent memory:
SEOUL, December 19, 2023 – Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) today held a Board of Directors meeting, approving a plan to sell its entire stake in Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Rus (HMMR LLC) to Art-Finance LLC. The operation of St. Petersburg-based HMMR has been suspended since March 2022. Hyundai is currently making final arrangements with Art-Finance for details of the deal.
To support Hyundai vehicle owners in Russia, Hyundai will continue to provide after-sales services and other customer care businesses.
But Hyundai didn’t simply abandon its Russian assets or sell them off. The Korea Herald reports that the company “sold” its manufacturing facility in St. Petersburg for just 140,000 won (the equivalent of 100USD), with a buyback option allowing the company to buy the plant back within two years of the initial sale.
For those of you doing the math, that gives Hyundai until December 2025 to decide whether it wants to buy back its massive, multimillion dollar, 200,000-unit annual capacity St. Petersburg factory for less than the cost of taking a family of four out to a prime-time showing of whatever Disney’s latest cynical live-action cash-grab is.
“But wait,” says the disembodied head of Billy Mays’ ghost, “there’s more!” That same report cites a number of Russian outlets that claim Hyundai and Kia have received more than 20 fresh trademarks in the vehicles, parts, and accessory categories from Rospatent, the Russian Federal Service for Intellectual Property.
My guess: they’re gonna want that factory back.
Why now
While it might be nice to imagine a resolution and permanent ceasefire in Ukraine, the reality is that it’s Trump’s destabilizing tariffs, combined with a population that’s reluctant to give Chinese automakers a fresh foothold on their uphill climb, have come together to make a fresh look at the Russian market – especially as the two-year buyback deadline looms.
“With the Trump risks regarding US exports, (Hyundai) needs to figure out ways to diversify their business regions,” Kim Pil-su, an automotive engineering professor at Daelim University, told The Korea Times. “(The company) already has experience in the Russian market and Russian customers have preference for Hyundai and Kia cars. It might cost them to buy back (the Russian plant) but they are going to proceed with the buyback option to revive their Russian business.”
It’s believed that Hyundai’s new, affordable new $25,000 Inster EV will lead the Korean charge back into Russia – part of a bid to push back against the Chinese influx of affordable, high-tech EVs, while the St. Petersburg factory spools up for production of more gas-powered offerings as EVs struggle to gain traction.
At its peak, Hyundai sold 354,000 vehicles across the country, accounting for a massive 23.3% total share of the new car market. Without other Western competition, a reborn HMMR would be looking at blue skies and green fields. If cold ones.
Electrek’s Take
Nobody ever said, “this is business,” before doing something nice. Planning for a return to the world’s 11th largest economy while the rest of the industry hits the brakes and waits for more stable footing is good business.
To put it another way: scared money don’t make no money.
SOURCES: TASS, The Korea Times; image of Trump and Putin from Wikimedia. According to Google Translate, that text in the featured image reads, “GOING BACK.”
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Environment
CATL launches the world’s first LFP battery with 470+ miles range and 10-minute charging
The EV battery giant is unlocking more driving range and faster charging, but without the hefty price tag. CATL launched its new Shenxing Pro on Monday, the world’s first LFP battery with over 470 miles (558 km) WLTP driving range and ultra-fast charging in 10 minutes.
CATL launches world’s first LFP battery with more range
At the Munich Motor Show, the global leader in electric vehicle batteries made its presence known. CATL introduced its new Shenxing Pro, deeming it “the world’s first LFP battery to deliver a 758 km WLTP range.”
The extended driving range is only a piece of it, however. CATL’s new battery is safer and features a record-breaking 12-year, 1,000,000 km lifespan, all while promising to lower costs.
It’s also now the fastest-charging battery in Europe, with 12C peak charging speeds. In just 10 minutes, the new battery can add nearly 300 miles (478 km) WLTP range.
Even in frigid temperatures of –20°C (–4°F), CATL said its new battery can add over 250 miles (410 km) of driving range. When the battery is at a 20% state of charge (SOC), the Shenxing battery will deliver up to 830 kW, good for a 0 to 100 km/h sprint in just 2.5 secs.
CATL’s new LFP battery is built to last. After driving 200,000 km (125,000 miles), it only loses about 9% of its capacity. Plus, it’s covered by a 10-year/ 240,000 km warranty.
The new Shenxing battery is the first to use CATL’s new NP 3.0 (No Propagation) technology, which offers “the world’s best-in-class safety performance.” Featuring its new Wave Cells tech, CATL claims it’s also the world’s first LFP battery that allows cooling systems from any direction.
— CATL (@catl_official) September 8, 2025
“With uncompromised range, charging, and durability, Shenxing Pro is the ultimate solution for electric mobility in Europe,” Dr. Lingbo Zhu, CTO of CATL’s International Business Unit, said at the event.
The new battery is part of CATL’s aggressive push into Europe. It’s already partnered with over 200 carmakers globally and more than 1,000 European suppliers, but it’s looking to play a bigger role. From simply exporting batteries, CATL aims to build them “in Europe, for Europe” in the early days, and eventually “of Europe,” it said, in the near future.
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Ford just gave buyers what they have finally been asking for: More range without the higher price tag. The new 2026 Ford F-150 Lightning STX delivers just that.
The 2026 Ford F-150 Lightning STX packs more for less
The F-150 Lightning retook the title of America’s top-selling pickup from the Tesla Cybertruck earlier this year, widening its lead over the past few months.
For the 2026 model year, Ford is upping the ante and giving buyers what they want. Ford introduced a new STX trim for the 2026 F-150 Lightning lineup, a new entry-level model, but with more range.
The new variant replaces the current XLT model and brings some serious upgrades. Powered by dual electric motors, one on the front and the other mounted on the rear, the electric truck packs 536 horsepower (up from 452 hp in the outgoing XLT) and 775 lb-ft of torque. Not bad for an entry-level model.
It also features the larger, 123 kWh extended range battery, delivering an EPA-estimated 290 miles of range. That’s up from the 240 miles in the outgoing XLT model that used a 98 kWh battery pack.
Ford didn’t stop at that. It also raided the F-150 parts bin for some off-road upgrades. The new F-150 Lightning variant features off-road running boards from the Tremor, plus new wheels and all-terrain tires.
It still has the classic F-150 pickup look, but the STX gains a fresh new grille design and hood graphics to help it stand out.
On the inside, the new variant features STX embroidered seats and a standard heated steering wheel, you know, for those long Michigan winters (or anywhere nowadays, it seems).
You can choose from several new exterior color options, including Argon Blue, Marsh Gray, and a Ruby Red Metallic Clearcoat.
Despite the upgrades, the new STX model will still have an MSRP of $63,345, the same as the outgoing XLT. Ford expects the STX variant to be one of the top-selling Lightning models next year. It will begin arriving at Ford dealerships across the US in early 2026.
With the 2026 model arriving soon, Ford is offering a few deals on current Lightning models you might be interested in. The 2025 F-150 Lightning XLT is listed for lease starting at just $258 per month right now. You can use our link to find offers on the Ford F-150 Lightning near you (trusted affiliate link).
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Environment
The Volkswagen ID.Cross delivers the ‘secret sauce’ as an affordable, sleek electric SUV
Is the ID.Cross the low-cost SUV we’ve been waiting for? The Volkswagen ID.Cross debuted at the Munich Motor Show with the “secret sauce” as an affordable, stylish new electric SUV.
Meet the Volkswagen ID.Cross, an affordable electric SUV
Volkswagen is gearing up to unleash a new family of affordable electric vehicles, including the ID.Cross, ID.Polo, and an even smaller, entry-level EV model.
As the all-electric sibling to its best-selling T-Roc, the ID.Cross arrives as what could be the most important Volkswagen EV to date.
Volkswagen showcased a near-production ID.Cross concept at the Munich Motor Show on Monday, boasting the new electric SUV has that “secret sauce” with a stylish new design and perhaps, more importantly, an affordable price tag.
Andreas Mindt, Volkswagen’s design boss, said the new design is based on three cornerstones: stability, likeability, and what he calls the “secret sauce,” which will be showcased on every upcoming model.
Volkswagen pulled design elements from some of its most iconic nameplates, including the Golf and minibus, as part of the new look.
Measuring 4,161 mm long, 1,839 mm wide, and 1,588 mm tall, with a wheelbase of 2,601 mm, the Volkswagen ID.Cross is about the size of the current T-Cross. Mindt said the electric SUV appears to be “smiling” with new graphics and a 3D light signature.
Although it’s a smaller SUV, Volkswagen promises it’s still an “all-rounder” with more interior space than you’d expect, with 450 liters of boot space.
The interior is designed as “a feel-good oasis,” according to Volkswagen. It features a lounge-style layout with new materials and various modes, including light, sound, and climate modes.
Two display screens, a 13″ infotainment and an 11″ driver display, sit at the center. Like the VW Bus, you can fold the seats completely flat to give you an open interior space.
Powered by a new version of its MEB platform, Mindt said the improvements are key to offering electric vehicles with “above-average” features at an affordable price.
The drive system features a 208 hp (155 kW) front-mounted electric motor. Although Volkswagen has yet to reveal final battery specs, it claimed the ID.Cross concept has up to 420 km (260 miles) WLTP driving range.
Adventure-seekers will appreciate its 1,200 kg max trailer weight and a ball coupling strong enough to carry two e-bikes (75 kg).
Volkswagen will unveil the production version next summer. It will follow the ID.Polo, set to debut in the first half of 2026. Prices will be revealed closer to launch, but the new VW ID.Cross will sit below the ID.4, which starts at about €34,855 ($41,000) in Europe.
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