SEOUL: South Korea’s Hyundai Motor and its smaller affiliate Kia on Sunday stated their mixed electrical automobile gross sales exceeded 1.5 million models as of December, 12 years after Hyundai debuted its first EV mannequin.

Hyundai launched its first EV mannequin, the BlueOn, which was primarily based on the i10 mini automotive, within the home market in July 2011.

Hyundai and Kia offered 516, 441 EVs in 2023, bringing their gathered EV gross sales to 1.53 million models on the finish of final yr, the businesses’ information confirmed, stories Yonhap information company.

Eight out of 10 Hyundai and Kia EVs have been offered abroad final yr. Finest-selling fashions embrace Hyundai’s Kona Electrical and IONIQ 5, and Kia’s Niro and EV6.

Regardless of a slowdown in EV gross sales, Hyundai plans to launch the electrified model of the Casper mini automotive later this yr, and Kia will begin manufacturing of the EV3 compact EV mannequin at its home plant within the second quarter.

In 2024, Hyundai goals to promote 4.24 million autos, barely larger than the 4.21 million final yr, and Kia goals to promote 3.2 million models, up 3.6 p.c from 3.08 million.

The 2 collectively kind the world’s third-largest carmaker by gross sales after Toyota Motor Corp. and Volkswagen Group.