South Korea’s leading automakers are set to introduce a range of new models in 2025, including hybrid SUVs, electric trucks, and updated combustion engine vehicles. The push comes as manufacturers seek to counter slowing domestic demand and ongoing challenges in the electric vehicle (EV) market.
Hyundai Motor Co., the country’s largest carmaker, is expected to commence mass production of the hybrid variant of its Palisade SUV this month, according to industry sources. The vehicle, featuring a 2.5-litre turbocharged engine paired with an electric motor, will mark Hyundai’s first hybrid SUV offering.
Later in the year, Hyundai will begin taking pre-orders for the Ioniq 9, its first large electric SUV. The vehicle was first revealed at the Los Angeles Auto Show in November 2024 and is expected to compete with other full-size EVs in global markets.
The second-generation Nexo hydrogen fuel cell vehicle, known as the Initium, will also enter mass production in the first half of the year. The model, which was previewed in concept form in late 2024, underscores Hyundai’s continued investment in hydrogen technology despite slow adoption in most markets.
Kia Corp. is set to launch its first-ever pickup truck, the Tasman, around March. Originally unveiled in Saudi Arabia in 2024, the model has already garnered significant interest, with over 20,000 pre-orders in Australia. The Tasman will enter a competitive market segment, contending with established models such as the Toyota Hilux, Ford Ranger, and Nissan Frontier.
Kia is also preparing to expand its EV lineup with the introduction of the EV4, a mid-size electric sedan, and the EV5, a compact electric SUV. These models will join Kia’s existing battery-electric range, which includes the EV3, a compact SUV, and the EV6, the company’s first dedicated electric vehicle.
Hyundai’s luxury division, Genesis, will begin taking pre-orders for the GV90, its first full-size electric SUV, by the end of the year. The brand is also expected to debut the GV60 Magma, a high-performance electric model, in South Korea. The concept version of the vehicle was first shown in New York in 2024.
KG Mobility Corp., formerly Ssangyong Motor, will launch the electric pickup truck O100. Based on the mid-size electric SUV Torres EVX, which gained attention in 2024, the O100 will be powered by lithium iron phosphate batteries supplied by China’s BYD.
Renault Korea will introduce the Scenic E-Tech, a new all-electric SUV, in South Korea this year. The model was named the European Car of the Year 2024 at the Geneva Motor Show.
GM Korea, a unit of General Motors Co., is scheduled to begin production of the Equinox EV in the country in the second half of the year. The small-size electric SUV debuted in the US in 2024.
These upcoming models reflect broader industry trends, with South Korean automakers balancing investments in hybrid, battery-electric, and hydrogen-powered vehicles amid shifting consumer demand and regulatory pressures.
