The report also said that the sell comes just a week after Ford disclosed a $7.3 billion write-down on its Rivian investment last year….reports Asian Lite News
US-based Ford Motor Company has sold a majority of electric vehicle startup Rivian shares, according to the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
The shares of the EV maker have been dropping steadily since May 2022, and are now at 1.15 per cent, or 10.5 million shares, reports TechCrunch.
The report also said that the sell comes just a week after Ford disclosed a $7.3 billion write-down on its Rivian investment last year.
Rivian’s stock has fallen almost 70 per cent since February 2022.
Moreover, Ford reported a $5.4 billion “mark-to-market loss” on its Rivian investment in April last year, also the automaker sold 15 million shares in two separate transactions the following month, reducing its stake in the EV maker to less than 10 per cent, according to the report.
Ford’s partnership with Rivian began in 2019 with a $500 million investment in the promising EV startup.
Other companies, like Amazon, also reported a $2.3 billion valuation loss in its Rivian stock.
Earlier this month, Rivian announced to lay off 6 per cent of its workforce.
As reported by Reuters, Rivian’s chief executive RJ Scaringe announced the lay-offs in an email to employees, stating that the firm is focusing resources on increasing vehicle manufacturing and achieving profitability.
Maruti Suzuki’s market share, which was at 51 per cent in 2019, has gone down to 41 per cent this September…reports Asian Lite News
With the petrol-powered small car/hatchbacks buyers affected and others opting for sport utility vehicle (SUV), Maruti Suzuki India Ltd will increase its CNG powered models as well as SUVs, Maruti-Suzuki Chairman R.C. Bhargava said on Friday.
He also said the small car segment which was at about 70 per cent for the company will go down to about 65 per cent which is also a substantial size.
Speaking to reporters, he noted that there has been a degrowth in the small car hatchback segment while SUV segment logged major growth.
“Next year, there will be degrowth in the hatchback segment. The purchasing power of hatchback segment has been affected and hence, is not growing. The production capacity will come down from 70 per cent to what the market needs,” Bhargava said.
Nevertheless, hatchbacks are still a large part of Maruti Suzuki’s business.
According to him, the decline in the small car market began three years ago and inflation will make it worse affecting this market segment.
He said the change in the composition of sales – decline in small cars and increase in SUVs – is due to the various price increases.
Maruti Suzuki’s market share, which was at 51 per cent in 2019, has gone down to 41 per cent this September.
Bhargava did not agree that the company was late in entering the electric vehicle segment -it plans to launch its model in 2025 – even as Tata Motors has launched a mass market model.
“The purchasing power of hatchback segment has been affected and hence, is not growing. The production capacity will come down from 70 per cent to what the market needs,”
“We are localising the components, looking at the infrastructure development in the country. An electric vehicle customer should not face issues,” he said.
Queried about the inventory build up of the small cars, Shashank Srivastava, Senior Executive Director, Marketing & Sales said there has been a bit of build up as there is mismatch of supply and demand.
He did not agree that the increase in compressed natural gas (CNG) prices will result in higher demand for diesel-powered models.
Srivastava said the diesel segment remains at 18 per cent and CNG continues to be a good economical option against petrol and diesel vehicles.
He said Maruti Suzuki will launch more CNG-powered models based on the waiting period for the existing ones.
On the SUV front, Bhargava said Maruti Suzuki will increase its offerings and newer models will be showcased at the upcoming AutoExpo.
Queried about the impact of rupee depreciation against the dollar, he said that the Indian currency depreciation is much less as compared to other currencies.
The rupee has strengthened against the yen, which has resulted in imports becoming cheaper for Maruti Suzuki.
Bhargava said the company is targeting two million units this year though the major challenge is the supply of semiconductors.
As regards the used car segment Srivastava said the used car pool has gone down.
Meanwhile, the company logged an operational revenue of Rs 29,930.8 crore and a net profit of Rs 2,061.5 crore for the quarter ended on September 30, 2022.
For the previous year’s corresponding period, Maruti Suzuki’s total operational revenue stood at Rs 20,538.9 crore and a net profit of Rs 475.3 crore.
During the quarter under review, the company had sold 517,395 vehicles — domestic 454,200 units, exports 63,195 units.
Shortage of electronic components impacted production by about 35,000 vehicles in this quarter.
The same period previous year was marked by acute shortage of electronic components and consequently the company could sell a total of 379,541 units comprising 320,133 units in domestic and 59,408 units in export markets.
Pending customer orders stood at about 412,000 vehicles at the end of this quarter out of which about 130,000 vehicle pre-bookings are for recently launched models, the company said.
The partnership will leverage Rolls-Royce’s aviation and certification capabilities and its own hydrogen fuel cell technologies and industrialisation capability….reports Asian Lite News
South Korea’s automotive major Hyundai Motor Group and Rolls-Royce have teamed up to bring out an all electric propulsion and hydrogen fuel cell technology-powered air mobility.
According to Hyundai, the partnership will leverage Rolls-Royce’s aviation and certification capabilities and its own hydrogen fuel cell technologies and industrialisation capability.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Rolls-Royce and Hyundai includes five strategic aims:
* Collaborating on the technology development and requirements of power and propulsion systems for Hyundai’s Advanced Air Mobility Division
* Collaborating on the industrialisation of Rolls-Royce power and propulsion systems for the advanced air mobility market
* Development of electric propulsion systems based on hydrogen fuel cells as an energy source for Hyundai’s RAM platforms
* Collaborating to bring to market a joint fuel-cell electric propulsion system to the wider AAM market
* Delivering a joint fuel-cell electric aircraft demonstration by 2025.
According to Jaiwon Shin, President, Hyundai Motor Group, the partnership with Rolls-Royce will draw upon their aviation and certification expertise to accelerate the development of hydrogen fuel-cell propulsion systems.
“Hyundai has successfully delivered hydrogen fuel cell systems to the global automotive market and is now exploring the feasibility of electric and hydrogen propulsion technologies for aerospace integration. We believe this to be the key technology to support the global aviation industry’s goal to fly net zero carbon by 2050,” he added.
Meanwhile, the union of Hyundai Motor said on Tuesday it has tentatively agreed with the company to build a dedicated electric vehicle (EV) plant in South Korea by 2025 amid a global electrification push.
Hyundai and its union reached an agreement on the domestic EV plant in the carmaker’s main Ulsan plant, 414 kms southeast of Seoul, a union spokesperson told Yonhap news agency.
The tentative agreement is subject to a vote by unionized workers as early as this month, ahead of the one-week summer holidays, which begin on July 30, he said.
Hyundai and its union are in negotiations over wages for this year and the domestic EV plant, a company spokesperson said.
The planned EV plant is part of Hyundai Motor Group’s plans announced in May to invest 63 trillion won ($49.8 billion) in its domestic businesses by 2025.
In May, Hyundai Motor Group also announced it will invest $5.54 billion to build a dedicated EV and car battery manufacturing plant in Georgia, the United States, with an aim to start production in the first half of 2025.
Hyundai has seven domestic plants in Korea and 11 overseas plants — four in China, and one each in the U.S., the Czech Republic, Turkey, Russia, India, Brazil and Indonesia. Their combined capacity reaches 5.65 million vehicles.
Audi is the most successful manufacturer in the history of the award, with 11 titles since 2005…reports Asian Lite News
The Audi e-tron GT quattro was a big winner at this year’s World Car Awards, which was presented for the 18th time in New York. Nominated in the categories ‘World Electric Vehicle of the Year’, ‘World Performance Car’, and ‘World Car Design of the Year’, the e-tron GT quattro took home the title of World Performance Car at the world’s biggest and most prestigious new car awards ceremony, dubbed the “Oscars of the automotive world”. More than 100 auto journalists from around the globe thoroughly tested the cars that qualified and then voted on them for the 2022 honours.
“We are delighted that the Audi e-tron GT has won the 2022 World Performance Car of the Year award! The e-tron GT was the only EV contestant in its particular category, competing with other powerful world-renowned performance vehicles. This win is testament to our vision of the future of mobility and is a symbol of the path we are on as a brand,” said Carsten Bender, Managing Director of Audi Middle East.
e-tron GT quattro
Sophisticated thermal management system for reproducible performance
The performance that earned the Audi e-tron GT quattro its World Performance Car award is ensured, to a great extent, by a sophisticated thermal management system. In the Audi e-tron GT quattro, that system consists of four thermal circuits. This means that the battery and the components of the drive system each stay at their ideal temperature, resulting in performance characteristics that can be reproduced at any time.
Thanks to its intelligent thermal management, anyone who uses the e-tron route planner in the e-tron GT quattro will put the battery in an ideal temperature range for charging, depending on the exterior temperature, even while the car is driving – very useful for fast charging with up to 270 kW.
Audi continues to expand its winning streak
This year’s victory brings the brand with the four rings to 11 first places at the World Car Awards, making Audi the most successful manufacturer in the history of the award.
Audi urbansphere concept offers a radical vision for the future of urban travel…reports Asian Lite News
Systematically designed from the inside out, Audi has unveiled plans for the Audi urbansphere concept car. Designers and engineers initially created the Audi urbansphere for use in traffic-dense Chinese megacities, although the concept is also suitable for any other metropolitan centre in the world. In these urban areas, where personal space is in particularly short supply, the concept car offers the largest interior space of any Audi to date. It intelligently coordinates this with technologies and digital services that appeal to all the senses and offer a whole new level of experience.
Markus Duesmann, Chairman of the Board Management at AUDI AG: “In order to meet the demands of our Chinese customers, Audi’s design studios in Beijing and Ingolstadt worked together closely to jointly develop the Audi urbansphere concept car. For the first time, potential customers in China could also take part in the development process, contributing their own desires and perspectives as part of a process known as ‘co-creation’.”
The result can be seen in the Audi urbansphere concept and its particularly striking interior. The spacious automobile acts as a lounge on wheels and a mobile office, serving as a living space during the time spent in traffic. To this end, the Audi urbansphere combines the luxury of complete privacy with a comprehensive range of high-tech features on board, even during the daily rush hour. Automated driving technology transforms the interior, in which a steering wheel, pedals, or displays are notably absent, into a mobile interactive space that provides a gateway to a wider digital ecosystem.
Audi urbansphere Front
Audi sphere – first class to the power of three
Audi skysphere, Audi grandsphere, and Audi urbansphere are the three concept cars that the brand with the four rings has developed to showcase its vision for the world of premium mobility of tomorrow. In the process, Audi is creating a vehicle experience that goes far beyond the purpose of merely spending time in a car to get from point A to point B.
Sphere number 1: The electrically driven roadster Audi skysphere concept debuted in August 2021. It presented a spectacular vision of a self-driving GT that transforms into a self-driving sports car with a variable wheelbase.
Just a few weeks later, Audi unveiled the second model in the sphere series, the Audi grandsphere concept, at the IAA 2021. This large four-seater sedan exemplified the brand’s ambition to define the future of progressive luxury.
What both concept cars have in common with the Audi urbansphere is that the entire concept is based on level 4 autonomous vehicle technology. Audi is currently working with CARIAD, Volkswagen Group’s software business, to introduce this technology within the second half of the decade.
Audi urbansphere Interior
Fast charging, high range
The heart of the drive system is the 800-volt charging technology. It ensures that the battery can be charged with up to 270 kilowatts at fast-charging stations in the shortest possible time. As such, charging times approach those of a conventional stop to refuel a car powered by an internal combustion engine: just 10 minutes are enough to charge the battery to a level sufficient to power the car to travel more than 300 kilometres (186 miles). In addition, the battery, which holds more than 120 kilowatt hours, can be charged from 5 to 80 percent in less than 25 minutes. This means that a range of up to 750 kilometres (466 miles) can be expected, according to the WLTP standard – and even when used for more energy-intensive city and short-distance trips, it is generally possible to avoid making unexpected stops to charge.
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Drive system
The Audi urbansphere concept’s two electric motors are capable of delivering a total output of 295 kilowatts and a system torque of 690 newton metres. These are impressive figures that are often not fully utilised when driving in dense urban traffic. Nevertheless, the Audi urbansphere is still equipped with permanent quattro four-wheel drive – an essential feature for the brand’s high-performance models.
As part of Audi’s vision of progress and plans for future mobility, one of these new concept cars, the Audi urbansphere, is currently on display at the Museum of the Future this Ramadan as part of a new partnership.
The results marked the region’s highest first quarter order intake since the foundation of the Dubai-based office in 1999…reports Asian Lite News
Porsche Middle East and Africa FZE, a wholly owned subsidiary of Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, Stuttgart, enjoyed a buoyant start to 2022 with a 25 per cent increase in new car deliveries between January and March when compared to the same period in 2021. The results marked also the region’s highest first quarter order intake since the foundation of the Dubai-based office in 1999.
In total, the regional office delivered 2,572 new cars in the first three months, the highest result since 2013. With 1,051 new cars handed over to customers in March alone, the organization also recorded its best March results over nine years.
Dr. Manfred Bräunl, Chief Executive Officer at Porsche Middle East and Africa, said the strong start to 2022 is encouraging and continues the drive from a solid 2021: “Last year we saw a great demand for our products that accelerated the strong start leading into this year. Our first quarter results show the potential of the region thanks to our innovative, exciting and desirable products that fulfil the dreams of many customers, one at a time.”
Continuing its sales momentum from 2021, the Cayenne premium SUV gained further ground over last year with an 86 per cent increase in sales over Q1 of 2021. A total of 1,140 units were delivered to customers across the region representing 44 per cent of total deliveries. The SUV segment overall has shown no signs of relinquishing its popularity among buyers; the Macan remained its rank as the second best-selling model recording 32 per cent share of total deliveries. In total, the Macan saw an increase of 16 per cent over the first three months compared to last year.
The iconic 911 was Porsche’s third best-selling model with a model share of 11 per cent, followed by the all-electric Taycan which enjoyed a stable trajectory. The Panamera, showed significant growth over the first quarter of last year with deliveries up by 92 per cent. The recent launch of the 718 Cayman GT4 RS has further boosted the appeal of the 718 model range and concludes the ranking.
South Africa was the top-ranking country within the region followed by the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and India. This came off the back of a strong dealer development plan that recently saw the opening of new dealerships in Bengaluru and Chennai as well as the final completion of the workshop in Delhi.
Dr. Bräunl added: “The last three months have been exhilarating resulting in an impressive business performance. Our importers have done an absolutely fantastic job once again and I would like to thank them for their commitment that goes beyond the here and now, with a clear mindset directed towards the future.”
“And the same goes for our organization; for us innovative concepts that extend beyond the traditional aspects of the business are a must to bring communities and their passion together. In keeping with this, Porsche Middle East is working hard with plans well under way for the 2022 Icons of Porsche event following last year’s major success.”
Further network expansions soon to be completed include Porsche Centre Katameya in Cairo and the Porsche NOW sales pop-up in Marassi, while in Dubai, Porsche has extended its relationship with boutique café, DRVN, renamed recently to “DRVN by Porsche” and situated on Bluewaters Island.
To celebrate the 30 years of the iconic Yukon, GMC will build 30, region exclusive, 30th Anniversary editions based on the Yukon Denali, the ultimate expression of GMC premium…reports Asian Lite News
Dominating looks, a commanding attitude, and class-leading refinement have defined the legendary GMC Yukon for over 30 years. Embedded in its very DNA is the demand for engineering excellence, driving GMC to bring new levels of power, capability and premium craftmanship to every iteration of the Yukon since its inception in 1991, with the latter taken to new heights with the introduction of the Yukon Denali trim in 1998.
GMC Yukon is woven into the fabric of the Middle East, as one of the region’s most continually popular SUVs, facilitating both family getaways and solo adventures. To celebrate the 30 years of the iconic Yukon, GMC will build 30, region exclusive, 30th Anniversary editions based on the Yukon Denali, the ultimate expression of GMC premium.
SHARON NISHI, CHIE MARKETING OFFICER, GM AFRICA & MIDDLE EAST: “The GMC Yukon holds a special place in the heart of the region. This is the SUV people grew up with, hitting the open road for Eid break, filling with family for Friday lunch trips or cruising into the desert for a night under the stars. The Yukon is a part of the family. We’re celebrating the Yukon’s 30th Anniversary with the fanfare it deserves. From a limited number special edition Yukon Denali that showcase the capability, power and refinement of GMC engineering to sharing the human stories that drive us, the spotlight is firmly on the Yukon and its legacy with our customers as well as future owners that aspire to be part of the GMC Family.”
The 30th Anniversary GMC Yukon: Key Highlights
The iconic GMC Yukon is one of the most recognizable vehicles on the road today. The 30th Anniversary edition is limited to 30 units and is built on the premium Yukon Denali trim, with a variety of unique accessories selected to highlight the Yukon Denali’s stunning aesthetics with a contemporary darkened theme.
Each of the 30 units will carry the exclusive 30th Anniversary emblems on the exterior, as well as an interior plaque marking the vehicles designation out of the 30 that would be built. The interior mounted plaque will also be laser etched with the vehicle’s unique Vehicle Identification Number to ascertain its limited status.
With just 30 units and exclusive to the Middle East, the limited run provides a higher level of distinction to the select GMC Yukon Denali 30th anniversary edition owners.
This limited edition run relies on a dark contemporary theme and will be appointed in Onyx Black, the most popular GMC Yukon exterior colors since the legend was born in 1991 – the GMC and Denali badging will also be in black accentuated by 22-inch, high gloss black multi-spoke wheels.
The 30th anniversary edition Yukon Denali’s darker theme illuminates evening drives and welcomes driver and passengers with a GMC logo projection on the perimeter lighting, while the illuminated front and rear door sill plates embossed with the Denali badge ensure sophistication at every touchpoint.
Adding to the 30th anniversary edition’s exterior and interior visual elements will be the aural amplification of the Yukon Denali’s 6.2L V8 with the addition of a GM performance Cat-Back Exhaust – this adds a distinctive V8 rumble to the experience and reminds driver, passengers as well as passerby’s of the power that resides within every Yukon.
30 Years of Yukon Memories
This Ramadan, GMC will reach out to customers and brand loyal to share special moments in which the Yukon has been a companion to memorable journeys through the last 30 years.
This customer and loyal fanbase outreach will be through a series of social media posts. A invitation to Join the brand by sharing their Yukon moment with the wider GMC community on GMC’s Instagram channel using the hashtag #Yukon30 and #YukonMoments.
The 30th Anniversary 2022 GMC Yukon deliveries will be in the summer of 2022. For enquiries please contact your local GMC dealership – stocks are limited. For more information, please visit GMC Arabia.
Kia has won another 2022 Red Dot Award for its ‘EV6 Unplugged Ground’ brand cultural space in Seongsu, Seoul…reports Asian Lite News
The innovative complex, where people can experience the award-winning EV6 in fun and imaginative ways, picked up the prestigious ‘Best of the Best title in Red Dot’s ‘Interior Architecture and Interior Design’ category.
With ‘EV6 Unplugged Ground’, Kia wanted to make a statement about its refreshed brand and first dedicated electric vehicle, and create a customer space like no other. From experience zones to test drives and expert product advice, the complex immerses people in the future of mobility within one of Seoul’s most popular districts, Seongsu. Formerly an industrial neighborhood, Seongsu has emerged into a popular hub of creativity and fashion in recent years, and is affectionately known locally as the ‘Brooklyn of Korea’.
JI-MIN KIM, HEAD OF KOREA BUSINESS STRATEGY GROUP, KIA: “The purpose of ‘EV6 Unplugged Ground’ was to convey a message about a new life – recycling, sustainability, future mobility and electric vehicles. We chose Seongsu as it was a neighborhood that has also been ‘reborn’, much like the Kia brand. For this space to receive recognition from prestigious design experts at Red Dot is a huge boost for everyone at Kia.”
Kia EV6: winner of two Red Dot product awards
Shortly after being crowned 2022 European Car of the Year, the Kia EV6 also picked up two Red Dot Awards: the ‘Best of the Best accolade for its pioneering and forward-looking design as well as being named winner in the ‘Innovative Products’ category.
The Red Dot Design Award is one of the largest design competitions in the world. It is announced annually by the Design Zentrum Nordrhein-Westfalen and is divided into three disciplines: Product Design, Brands & Communication Design, and Design Concept. The history of the traditional ‘Red Dot Award: Product Design’ goes back to 1955. This year’s entries were assessed by a 50-member international jury of independent designers, design professors, and trade journalists.
Jaguar Land Rover partners with Pramac to create zero-emissions charging unit using second-life Jaguar I-PACE batteries…reports Asian Lite News
Jaguar Land Rover has partnered with Pramac, a global leader in the energy sector, to develop a portable zero-emission energy storage unit powered by second-life Jaguar I-PACE batteries.
Called the Off Grid Battery Energy Storage System (ESS), Pramac’s technology – which features lithium-ion cells from Jaguar I-PACE batteries taken from prototype and engineering test vehicles, supplies zero-emission power where access to the mains supply is limited or unavailable.
JLR_Pramac_SecondLifeBattery_I-PACE_
The partnership is the first in Jaguar Land Rover’s plans to create new circular economy business models for its vehicle batteries. As part of its commitment to net zero status by 2039, the company will be launching programmes that deliver second life and beyond uses for its electric vehicle batteries.
Post-vehicle applications exist because Jaguar Land Rover’s batteries are engineered to the highest standards and can therefore be safely deployed in multiple low-energy situations once battery health falls below the stringent requirements of an electric vehicle. Second-life battery supply for stationary applications, like renewable energy storage, could exceed 200 gigawatt-hours per year by 2030, creating a global value over $30 billion*.
JLR_Pramac_SecondLifeBattery_I-TYPE5_
The flagship system has a capacity of up to 125kWh – more than enough to fully charge Jaguar’s multi-award-winning all-electric I-PACE performance SUV, or to power a regular family home for a week**. Pramac directly reuses up to 85% of the vehicle battery supplied by Jaguar Land Rover within the storage unit, including modules and wiring. The remaining materials are recycled back into the supply chain.
Charged from solar panels, the unit is a self-contained solution that consists of a battery system linked to a bi-directional converter and the associated control management systems. Available for commercial hire, the units are fitted with Type 2 Electric Vehicle (EV) charge connections with dynamic control and rated at up to 22kW AC to allow electric vehicle charging.
To showcase its capability, the unit helped Jaguar TCS Racing prepare for the 2022 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship during testing in the UK and Spain, where it was used to run the team’s cutting-edge diagnostic equipment analysing the race cars’ track performance, and to supply auxiliary power to the Jaguar pit garage.
An Off Grid Battery ESS will also be deployed at Jaguar Land Rover Experience Centre in Johannesburg, South Africa – the world’s biggest – to help the site cope with inconsistent power delivery from the mains.
Andrew Whitworth, Battery Manager, Circular Economy Team at Jaguar Land Rover, said: “This announcement is a great example of how we will collaborate with industry leaders to deliver our sustainable future and achieve a truly circular economy. We’re delighted to be working with Pramac to use Jaguar I-PACE second-life batteries to provide portable zero-emissions power and supporting Jaguar TCS Racing this season was an excellent opportunity to demonstrate what these units are capable of.”
JLR_Pramac_SecondLifeBattery_Unit_
François Dossa, Executive Director for Strategy & Sustainability, Jaguar Land Rover, said: “The transition to an electric future, with Jaguar becoming all-electric from 2025 and the first all-electric Land Rover model expected in 2024, is integral to our sustainability strategy through the development of a comprehensive EV ecosystem from batteries to charging. This includes our effort to enable technical and business innovations for battery reuse for second life applications. Our collaboration with Pramac is a proof point in such direction, showing how it’s possible to supply zero-emission power through the combination of renewables and second life batteries. Through their testing at Valencia, the Jaguar TCS Racing team have shown how we can inspire the whole ecosystem to continue to explore synergies and validate viable solutions for clean energy.”
Danny Jones, Director, Pramac, said: “We have been privileged to work so closely with Jaguar Land Rover who are a hugely supportive partner in our journey to successfully build a robust product and a commercially viable business case using second-life EV modules. This brings a new element to the sustainability story as a manufacturer of energy efficient and carbon reducing technology. We look forward to continuing the journey with Jaguar Land Rover and providing innovative charging infrastructure solutions to support the electrification of their class-leading vehicles.”
EV6 has a winning combination of a long-distance real-world driving range with ultra-fast charging technology…reports Asian Lite News
The all-new Kia EV6 has been named the 2022 Car of the Year in the prestigious European Car of the Year (COTY) awards. The innovative all-electric crossover was voted the overall winner by a 61-strong jury consisting of highly respected motoring journalists from 23 European countries.
The Kia EV6 was initially listed for consideration for the top award alongside over sixty models that launched during 2021. In November, the COTY jury whittled this longlist down to a seven-strong shortlist, six of which were electric vehicles (EVs), further demonstrating the growing importance of electric vehicles to consumers as society transitions towards a new mobility future.
From making the shortlist, the EV6 successfully fought off competition from the Hyundai IONIQ 5, Ford Mustang Mach-E, Škoda Enyaq iV, Cupra Born, Renault Mégane E-Tech and Peugeot 308 to be crowned 2022 European Car of the Year.
Jason Jeong, President at Kia Europe, commented: “It’s a great honour to have won the 2022 European Car of the Year with the EV6, the first ever Kia to win this prestigious award. The EV6 is truly a landmark development that’s been designed from the outset to make electric mobility fun, convenient and accessible by combining a highly impressive real-world driving range, ultra-fast charging capabilities, a spacious high-tech interior and a truly rewarding driving experience. The EV6 is an exciting sign of what’s still to come in our evolving electrified line-up.”
Dedicated platform
The EV6 is Kia’s first dedicated EV to be based on the company’s Electric-Global Modular Platform (E-GMP). This high-tech architecture ensures the EV6 eliminates the many compromises faced by EVs that are created on platforms initially designed to accommodate internal combustion engine vehicles. As a result of its E-GMP underpinnings, the EV6 has a class-leading interior space, a highly impressive 528km driving range and 800V ultra-fast charging capabilities that enables customers to carry out a 10 to 80 percent charge in just 18 minutes.
Signifying its high-tech positioning, the EV6 was the first global model to incorporate Kia’s new design philosophy ‘Opposites United’ which takes inspiration from the contrasts found in nature and humanity. At the center of the design philosophy is a new visual identity evoking positive forces and natural energy, with contrasting combinations of sharp stylistic elements and sculptural shapes.
The 2022 European Car of the Year award is the latest in a growing number of globally renowned awards bestowed on the EV6 since its introduction last year. Other titles recently claimed include: 2022 Irish Car of the Year; 2022 What Car? ‘Car of the Year’; ‘Crossover of the Year’ at the TopGear.com 2021 awards; ‘Premium’ winner in the German Car of the Year 2022 awards; and joint winner of the inaugural ‘Best Cars of the Year’ 2021/2022 awards.
The EV6 is the first of seven dedicated EV models Kia plans to launch by 2026. The all-electric crossover will play a key role in the company’s plans to become a leading global sustainable mobility solutions provider.
