May 13, 2022 12:55

"Hyundai has announced it will manufacture only EVs starting in 2035, so combustion engine cars are on their way out. There is probably no reason to spend W300 billion developing a new version now Sonata sales have slowed." A face-lifted Sonata set to hit showrooms next year will probably be the last.
Hyundai has sold 9.17 million Sonatas in Korea and abroad, making it Hyundai's third-bestselling model after the Avante (14.4 million) and Accent (10.10 million).
It also used to be the most exported car in Korea, but shipments have declined since 2019. Sales of the latest Sonata released in 2019 reached only 440,000 over the last three years compared to 1 million or more of previous models.
Consumers appear to favor SUVs now, with a whopping 47.3 percent of Hyundai's sales last year being SUVs. A staffer said, "We can't rule out an electric Sonata, but we're prioritizing the development of a compact electric car rather than a less popular midsize vehicle."
- Copyright © Chosunilbo & Chosun.com