The car is definitely being discontinued in Korea as a direct result of a string of battery fires that have prompted extensive recalls, which is where the reports about its discontinuation first surfaced. In fact, the automaker, which only began producing this specific vehicle in 2018, has seen so many battery fire recalls that they believe it would be more cost-effective to stop production in Korea than it would be to try and repair the issue and carry on. It’s important to note that they had just spent the time redesigning the car entirely for the forthcoming 2022 model year. While Hyundai states that manufacture of the vehicle would end in Korea, the company also states that it is equally dedicated to ensuring that it is produced in the United States and that any possible safety concerns are addressed appropriately. On the one hand, the fact that they don’t intend to completely eliminate this affordable SUV has some individuals who are seriously considering buying one delighted. On the other side, it raises concerns about potential security risks and whether the vehicle is indeed secure. After all, many individuals undoubtedly wouldn’t feel comfortable operating a car that might catch fire. How this will ultimately impact the car’s sales in the US remains to be seen.
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South Korean sales of Hyundai Kona Electric have ended
The Kona Electric, which was unveiled in March 2018, made headlines in 2020 for all the wrong reasons because to battery and software flaws. Massive recalls caused by some manufacturing flaws caused Hyundai to stop selling the Kona EV in South Korea after just three years on the market. Over 75,000 Kona EVs had defective batteries that had to be replaced globally, which undoubtedly damaged the car’s reputation. Despite the issues, the firm appears optimistic about the future of the EV and, according to the Korean article, has chosen a second-generation family.
Hyundai will stop selling the Kona EV in the country.
According to local sources citing company executives, Hyundai Motor claimed it had stopped producing the battery-powered Kona compact SUV for domestic sales as it phases out the model in its home market.
As battery fire recalls continue, Hyundai Kona Electric was discontinued in Korea.
Gran Turismo was the beginning of it all. Sean has always had a fascination with things that move thanks to his early PlayStation days. He worked as a freelancer for Motor Authority, The Car Connection, and Green Car Reports before joining the Roadshow team. Sean has a 2016 Chevrolet SS, and it does have Holden badges, in the garage.
The Hyundai Kona Electric has been rumored to have an unclear future, and on Wednesday we discovered that it is being discontinued in Korea, the country where the company is based. As battery fire recalls continue, Yonhap News Agency in the nation was the first to disclose that Hyundai would stop selling the Kona Electric domestically. The Ioniq 5 will serve as the company’s flagship EV for the time being.
The Kona Electric went from being a bestseller to a slow seller very fast due to reports of battery fires and subsequent recalls. Due to recalls, the model’s popularity declined 40% in the first quarter of 2021 compared to the same period the previous year, according to the manufacturer. Although a Hyundai representative informed Roadshow that the company has no current intentions to stop selling the Kona Electric in the US, the recalls also expanded to that country.
Hyundai recently unveiled a revamped model, likely to be sold in both Europe and the US, with new exterior styling but the same internal combustion engine. However, Korea will have to make due with whatever models are still on dealer lots. Hyundai will instead concentrate on the upcoming EVs under the Ioniq sub-brand after production of the car for the domestic market stopped in March.
Does the Hyundai Kona have any issues?
The engine is the first component that the majority of Kona drivers criticize. One of the owners claims that while operating the Kona, the engine stalled three times.
Another driver claimed that the issue began as soon as the “check engine warning light” appeared. The driver didn’t waste any time and immediately brought the car to a nearby dealer, where mechanics diagnosed the engine and advised the driver to think about changing the battery.
The 2019 Kona has 145 complaints on CarComplaints. While the NHTSA only got one recall and 145 complaints. Unusual knocking noises coming from the engine were frequently noted by drivers.
The Kona’s engine had to eventually be recalled by the NHTSA. As a result, Hyundai was forced to recall almost 160,000 2.0-liter Nu MPI-powered Hyundai Kona vehicles.
Your Kona will use too much oil if you don’t fix the engine problem. Sometimes it will make a banging noise, which will cause the engine to stall or even seize.
You and other drivers may be in danger if the Kona’s engine stalls at an inconvenient time.
Another possibility is that the connecting rod could pierce the engine block as a result of the engine. If you don’t move quickly, there could be an oil leak that results in a car fire.
Unfortunately, Hyundai is unable to quickly replace the engines. Therefore, car owners must wait. Two Hyundai owners made the decision to seek legal counsel in order to file claims as a result.
The drivers claim that Hyundai takes far too long to fix or upgrade the engine.
Does buying a Hyundai Kona make sense?
At $34,000, the Hyundai Kona Electric is affordable. The electric subcompact SUV qualifies for the federal electric car tax credit, according to Fueleconomy.gov. The Kona Electric costs closer to $26,500 after the incentive. That is remarkably inexpensive for an EV.
The Kona Electric is among the most reasonably priced electric vehicles available thanks to the tax credit. Although affordability is crucial, what about practicality?
A major worry for prospective owners of electric vehicles is range anxiety. Many motorists cite range anxiety as their top excuse for staying away from electric vehicles. Having a 258-mile driving range, the Kona Electric. The typical range today is 200 to 250 miles.
For such a cheap EV, the Kona Electric offers an outstanding driving range. The small electric car offers excellent value for the money. The cost is justified. The Kona Electric is a wonderful location to start your search if you want to move from an internal combustion car to an electric vehicle.
For whom Hyundai Kona are batteries produced?
Hyundai stated in a statement that construction would start on its new plant in Georgia in early 2023, and it plans to start commercial production there in the first half of 2025 with a capacity of 300,000 EVs per year.
The battery production plant will be developed through a strategic collaboration, the specifics of which will be released later, according to Hyundai Motor Group, which also owns Hyundai Motor Co (005380.KS) and Kia Corp (000270.KS).
The facility is a significant component of Hyundai’s $7.4 billion investment program in the United States through 2025 to promote future mobility. Georgia anticipates bringing in an extra $1 billion in investment from unrelated Hyundai Motor Group suppliers on top of the first investment.
The battery division of SK Innovation (096770.KS), which supplies Hyundai with batteries, has constructed two nearby Georgia operations. Production for the first, which primarily serves Volkswagen AG (VOWG p.DE), began in the first quarter. Early in the following year, production on the second, which will supply Ford Motor Co. (F.N), is expected to start.
The American investment in Hyundai comes as U.S. Vice President Biden arrives in South Korea on Friday. View More
The South Korean auto group, one among the top five automakers in the world based on vehicle sales, has manufacturing facilities in Alabama and Georgia. Hyundai Motor announced in April that it would invest $300 million at its Montgomery assembly to introduce EVs. View More
Separately, Hyundai Motor Group announced Wednesday that it will spend $16.43 billion ($21 trillion won) through 2030 to grow its EV business in South Korea. View More
David Shepardson in Washington and Heekyong Yang in Seoul contributed to the reporting, while Kirsten Donovan and Bernard Orr edited it.
Kona: A compact vehicle?
What is the Hyundai Kona and who does it compete with, then? The Ford Puma, Seat Arona, Skoda Kamiq, and Volkswagen T-Roc are its main competitors. Because it is a tiny SUV, it has a rather high driving position.
When was Kona 2022 released?
- For the 2022 model year, the Hyundai Kona and Kona Electric will get new exterior styling.
- The 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 147 horsepower is still the basic unit; however, a new N Line variant offers a turbocharged 1.6-liter engine that produces 195 horsepower.
- In the spring of 2022, the Kona and Kona Electric will be delivered.
For the 2022 model year, Hyundai is redesigning the Kona subcompact crossover with bolder styling for both the gasoline-powered and electric variants. To help make its performance models more accessible, the company will soon add a sportier N Line (seen above) and even sportier N model to the portfolio. The Kona N will be available by the end of the year after the arrival of the new Konas in the spring.
The revised design gives the subcompact SUV a more aggressive and appealing appearance by adding even more black cladding up front, mostly on the bumper, a wider honeycomb grille, thin light signatures, and streamlined headlamps. The body cladding is much more prominent in the back, and the taillights are significantly thinner than they were on the previous design. According to Hyundai, the new Kona is 1.6 inches longer than the model from 2021. With three vents above the grille and body-colored cladding, the N Line has a little sportier appearance. It also sports more aggressive 18-inch wheels as opposed to the conventional 16- or 17-inch ones. In the past, the Kona Electric (seen below) had irregular indents in place of the grille, but the 2022 model now features a simpler, smoother front end with updated headlamps and a comparable back to the gas-powered Kona without body cladding.
The 2.0-liter four-cylinder in the Kona SE and SEL variants is the same as before; it produces 147 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque. A turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine with a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission that is offered in the N Line and Limited variants produces 195 horsepower, 20 more than previously. A 275-hp 2.0-liter inline-four turbocharged engine from the Veloster N will power the even sportier Kona N. Despite the fact that we only got to travel 160 miles in our test of a 2019 model, the Kona Electric’s range is still expected to be 258 miles on a single 64.0-kWh battery pack.
A standard 8.0-inch touchscreen with a streamlined dashboard design and an optional digital gauge cluster is at the heart of the Kona’s new cabin. A 10.3-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionality is standard on the Limited variant and available on the N Line. While cargo capacity behind the second seat hasn’t changed from the previous generation, second row legroom has. For next three years, Hyundai’s Blue Link app is still free, and Kona Electric owners can schedule their desired charges.
The spring will see the arrival of the 2022 Hyundai Kona, which will include the N Line and Kona Electric. Pricing for the N Line is anticipated to start at little over $21,000 and go up to around $30,000. The Kona Electric will cost a little more, with prices beginning under $40,000.
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Hyundai Kona’s fuel economy?
The 2022 Hyundai Kona can go more miles on the highway and in the city thanks to its maximum fuel efficiency rating of an EPA-estimated 30 city and 35 highway mpg with SE and SEL FWD trims, which is pretty average compared to other compact SUVs and smaller family cars.