Hyundai Elexio EV to spearhead China market comeback

Hyundai Motor will debut the Elexio, a battery-powered SUV designed exclusively for China, this September.

The Hyundai Elexio EV marks the first of six localized electric vehicles planned for release over the next two years, as South Korea’s largest automaker seeks to reverse a decade-long sales slide in the world’s largest auto market. The Elexio will be developed with Beijing Hyundai Motor Company (BHMC) and use batteries from Chinese automaker BYD.

First of six localized EVs in pipeline

The Elexio represents Hyundai’s new strategy for China. According to Just Auto, the South Korean automaker plans to build models tailored to local tastes and powered by locally sourced technology.

Developed with China’s BHMC, the upcoming Elexio SUV will be the first in a lineup of six China-specific EVs scheduled through 2026. Its launch follows the August introduction of Hyundai’s second-generation Palisade SUV in China, which offers more horsepower and improved fuel efficiency than its predecessor. Together, the Palisade and Elexio are expected to anchor the brand’s product offensive in the market.

Sales recovery after steep decline

Hyundai’s push comes after a sharp downturn in China, where BHMC’s local sales plunged to 125,000 units in 2024 from 244,000 the previous year — far below the company’s 2016 peak of 1.2 million units.

The drop began with political tensions between South Korea and China and worsened as Hyundai lagged in the EV shift. Exports from BHMC’s Chinese plants climbed to 45,000 units in 2024, from just 445 in 2023. Hyundai plans to follow the Elexio with a China-designed electric sedan in the first half of 2026.

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