Hyundai Coasts Into Another EV Sales Increase While Tesla Stalls

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Final Up to date on: 2nd April 2025, 11:24 am

Add Hyundai to the record of US automakers having fun with a wholesome improve EV gross sales for Q1 2025, regardless of — or maybe due to — the brittle state of federal assist for the US auto trade. It stays to be seen what is going to occur when the Q2 numbers roll in. In the meantime, Hyundai is taking the chance to rejoice the feminine members of its management crew alongside its EV gross sales report.

Oh the irony, it burns. Right here’s Hyundai celebrating feminine management whereas Tesla CEO Elon Musk, the richest man on the earth, spends tens of millions in a failed attempt buy votes away from Susan Crawford, a working lawyer and decide operating for a seat on the Wisconsin State Supreme Courtroom. Sure, she gained. Handily. By a 10-point margin in a state Trump gained in 2024. Simply saying.

Hyundai Celebrates Girls Leaders Alongside EV Gross sales

Earlier than we get to Hyundai’s Q1 EV gross sales let’s take a fast take a look at what the corporate has to say about its C-suite ladies. The corporate’s celebration of gender variety report alongside its EV gross sales is especially important at the moment, because the Trump crew continues to carry the axe down on federal DEI (variety, fairness, inclusion) applications whereas additionally threatening personal sector corporations into dropping their DEI initiatives as nicely.

“Three Hyundai executives, Claudia Márquez, Olabisi Boyle, and Kate Fabian have been named 2025 Trailblazing Women in Automotive by Reuters, a prestigious recognition honoring twenty outstanding global females who are leaders in the highly competitive automotive industry,” Hyundai enthused in a press launch dated April 1, wherein it additionally recapped its US gross sales report for Q1 2025.

“This marks the first time three women from one company have received the honor in the same year, underscoring Hyundai’s commitment to cultivating impactful leaders,” Hyundai emphasised.

Hyundai beforehand celebrated the three executives in a separate press launch dated March 10, stating that their “leadership has strengthened Hyundai’s position as a global mobility leader, setting new benchmarks in electrification, sustainability, and digitalization.”

Hyundai Crushed EV Gross sales In March

Hyundai additionally had loads to rejoice by way of total gross sales for Q1 within the US, significantly because the quarter closed out within the month of March. That bodes nicely for the corporate’s means to switch model loyalty from ICE automobiles to EVs within the coming years, although as famous above that might depend upon the state of federal coverage in the course of the Trump administration.

“This was the best March in Hyundai’s history, a record sixth consecutive month setting best-ever total sales,” Hyundai reported. Complete March gross sales within the US added as much as 87,019 models, 13% greater than the identical month in 2024.

Collectively, Hyundai’s lineup of hybrids and BEVs fared significantly nicely in March. “March total sales of hybrid electric vehicles jumped 72%, while total electrified sales grew by 38%,” the corporate enthused, taking specific be aware of a 17% bounce for the IONIQ 5.

“Hyundai electrified vehicle sales of 20,885 represented 26% of retail sales and a 44% year-over-year increase,” the corporate added.

A Large Step For Complete EV Gross sales, A Smaller Step For BEVs

For all three months in Q1 the collective electrification totals have been additionally spectacular. “Electrified total sales were up 38% with hybrid-electric total sales jumping 68%,” Hyundai reported. The Q1 determine for pure EV gross sales development was much less spectacular however nonetheless substantial at a 3% improve for the quarter.

The IONIQ 5 overperformed, setting a brand new Q1 gross sales report for itself. The car topped its 2024 determine by a wholesome 26% and racked up a Q1 2025 complete of 8,611 models (see extra IONIQ 5 background here).

The award-winning IONIQ 6 continues to be a piece in progress, with Q1 gross sales falling 9% from 2024. By the use of comparability, although, Hyundai had worse dangerous luck promoting its ICE Santa Cruz pickup truck, which suffered a gross sales drop of 21% in comparison with 2024.

Gross sales of the KONA SUV have been additionally operating far behind the IONIQ 5. The car, which is available in ICE, hybrid and BEV variants, landed at 17,018 models for the quarter, down 26% from 2024.

Rounding out the zero emission lineup is the ill-fated NEXO hydrogen gasoline cell electrical automobile. Having bought zero models this quarter and 51 final 12 months, Hyundai recorded a 100% drop in gross sales for the NEXO.

How To Promote Extra EVs In The US

With Tesla sales going down, down, and downer within the US and different key markets, different US automakers have a golden alternative to pump up their EV gross sales information, and they’re. Along with Hyundai, GM and Ford additionally did the completely happy dance over their Q1 EV gross sales figures, which they introduced on April 1.

Nonetheless, EVs don’t promote themselves. In its April 1 press launch, Hyundai indicated that security can be a think about its gross sales pitch for the IONIQ 5 and IONIQ 6. Each of the 2025 fashions earned the very best security score from the group Insurance coverage Institute for Freeway Security.

Enhancing entry to public EV charging stations can be on the menu. Starting on April 7, Hyundai will begin reaching out to present homeowners of the electrical KONA and sure IONIQ fashions which have a Mixed Charging System, to allow them to know they’ll get a complimentary NACS adapter. The supply, which applies to homeowners who purchased their automobile on or earlier than January 1 of this 12 months, opens up entry to twenty,000 Tesla Superchargers dotting the US panorama.

When it comes to boosting EV gross sales, dwelling charging stations are additionally a part of the plan. By an awesome majority, EV drivers prefer to recharge at home. Accordingly, Hyundai is increasing its complimentary dwelling charger and charging credit score gives to cowl the 2025 IONIQ 6, 2024 IONIQ 6, and 2024 IONIQ 5.

When Can We Get An INSTER?

As a serial Hyundai Accent proprietor (three thus far), my ears pricked up once I heard about Hyundai’s latest electric compact, the INSTER. It was unveiled on the 2024 Busan Worldwide Mobility Present final June.

If something might tease me out of my Accents, that might be the INSTER. The maneuverable, constructed for metropolis driving compact doubles as a load-hauler. Hyundai suggests loading it up with an e-bike or e-scooter, enabling drivers to park exterior of congested areas, change to a two-wheeler, and scoot on by. The car additionally sports activities bidirectional charging, in case the two-wheeler wants some further juice.

Hyundai shared the INSTER unveil with CleanTechnica by e-mail in June, noting that “INSTER will launch first in Korea this summer, followed by Europe, the Middle East, and Asia Pacific in due course.”

Boo! I checked in with Hyundai and so they confirmed there have been no plans to carry the INSTER to the US. That was 9 months in the past, although. Perhaps issues have modified since then? In its April 1 press launch, Hyundai made a degree of noting that the INSTER made it to the Prime 3 Finalist slot on the 2025 World Automobile Awards, suggesting a tease for its US viewers.

In the meantime, Hyundai has additionally been priming the pump for its new “INSTEROID” EVwith the “steroid” a part of the identify being on function. That’s not a very female-friendly selection because it stands, however maybe Hyundai has noticed one other EV gross sales alternative. Keep tuned for an official unveiling later this month.

Photograph: Hyundai racked up one other improve in EV gross sales for Q1 2025 within the US, lead by its common IONIQ 5 electric compact crossover SUV (courtesy of Hyundai).