Hyundai hybrid gross sales set to take off in Australia

Gross sales of hybrid automobiles have been booming Australia over the previous couple of years and Hyundai is the newest firm to ramp up its native choices.

Hyundai Australia product planning and improvement supervisor Tim Rodgers instructed CarExpert that for some fashions there’s “big potential simply due to the rivals on the market and the way a lot hybrid they’re promoting”.

“We are able to clearly see there’s an urge for food for hybrid,” mentioned Mr Rodgers.

“Kona Hybrid hasn’t been available on the market for lengthy however the gross sales charges for that … have been past our expectations.

“So our prospects, they know we’re about electrification. I feel hybrid makes numerous sense to only a basic Australian buyer proper now.

“Increasingly you’ll see extra hybridisation I’m certain as we transfer in the direction of full electrification as effectively in numerous these portfolios.”

Hyundai launched its first hybrid regionally with the now-defunct Ioniq in 2018. This complete mannequin line, which additionally included plug-in hybrid (PHEV) and electrical powertrains, was axed in 2022.

That very same yr Hyundai Australia launched the Santa Fe Hybrid. It’s at the moment obtainable in two totally different trim ranges with each powered by a 1.6-litre turbo-petrol hybrid powertrain that’s shared with the associated Kia Sorento.

The subsequent-generation Santa Fe, due this yr, will launch with a hybrid powertrain.

As Mr Rodgers famous, the new-generation Kona additionally now affords a hybrid powertrain. It’s obtainable in 4 totally different trim ranges, together with two sporty-looking N Line variations.

Trying to the longer term, Hyundai Australia has already confirmed hybrid variations of the i30 Sedan and Tucson are set to belatedly arrive regionally this yr. These will go head-to-head with the Toyota Corolla and RAV4, respectively.

As not too long ago reported, a complete of 98,439 new hybrid automobiles had been bought in Australia final yr, which is a rise of 20.3 per cent in comparison with 2022.

Toyota continued to dominate the hybrid automobile gross sales charts, led by its ever-popular RAV4, Corolla and Camry.

Hyundai bought a complete 1353 examples of the Santa Fe Hybrid final yr, making it the sixteenth top-selling hybrid automotive in Australia. It accounted for 22.4 per cent of whole Santa Fe gross sales in 2023.

The corporate nonetheless managed to promote 682 examples of the Kona Hybrid final yr regardless of its launch happening late within the yr.

MORE: VFACTS 2023: The perfect-selling hybrids and plug-in hybrids in Australia