Hyundai Testing China’s Tech for its Upcoming EVs
Hyundai seems to be taking a page from China for its upcoming electric vehicles, as a new EV taking China by storm was recently caught with testing plates near Hyundai’s global R&D hub.
The Xiaomi SU7, known as the “Apple of China” for its smartphones and other tech, made its debut last year as Xiaomi’s first electric vehicle. Since then, the SU7 has been climbing up the sales charts rapidly. Just recently, Xiaomi announced the delivery of its 200,000th SU7 in less than a year, showcasing its popularity in the market.
The SU7 has been outpacing the Tesla Model 3 in China, with over 22,000 units delivered in January alone. This success has led Xiaomi to set a goal of selling 350,000 EVs this year, surpassing major automotive brands like Volkswagen, Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Porsche combined.
In a strategic move to stay ahead of the competition, Hyundai was seen testing a Xiaomi SU7 near its Namyang R&D Center, the company’s global R&D hub. The SU7, like Hyundai’s E-GMP platform that powers the IONIQ 5 and IONIQ 6, boasts 800V fast charging capabilities. With a 101 kWh battery pack, the range-topping Max trim offers an impressive 810 km (503 miles) CLTC range rating.
Moreover, Xiaomi recently launched the high-performance SU7 Ultra, which features up to 1,526 horsepower from three electric motors, enabling a 0 to 62 mph (0 to 100 km/h) acceleration in just 1.98 seconds. The SU7 starts at 215,900 yuan, or approximately $30,000, while the flagship Ultra trim is priced at 529,900 yuan ($73,000).
With Hyundai preparing to launch its new Pleos brand in less than two weeks, which will introduce new tech and software for upcoming Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis vehicles, it raises the question of whether we will see some of China’s tech trickle into Hyundai’s lineup.
As Hyundai continues to innovate and adapt to the evolving EV market, testing China’s tech for its upcoming EVs could be a strategic move to stay competitive and meet the demands of consumers. Only time will tell how this collaboration will shape the future of Hyundai’s electric vehicles.
Source: TheKoreanCarBlog, AutoSpy
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