Hyundai Motor UK has won three major titles at the annual Next Green Car Awards, including the flagship Manufacturer of the Year and Car of the Year awards. These most recent wins come hot on the heels of Hyundai being named Electric Vehicle Manufacturer of the Year at the GreenFleet Awards.
It was the revolutionary Kona Electric singled out by Next Green Car Awards judges for special praise, picking up both Car of the Year and Family Car of the Year awards. Its extraordinary value for money and family-friendly practicality elevated it above all other contenders in the eyes of the Next Green Car experts.
The Next Green Car Awards team said: “With its 279-mile range, the Hyundai Kona Electric represents outstanding value for money when compared with rival offerings. As the first to bring a long-distance EV to mass-market customers – and with such a capable package – Hyundai’s Kona Electric is NGC’s Car of the Year 2018.” Â
KONA Electric is the latest electrified model from Hyundai, joining the IONIQ in the line-up – the world’s first car to be available with three separate electric powertrains; hybrid, plug-in hybrid or fully electric.
It was Hyundai’s pioneering work in electrified powertrains, and the broad array of low emissions offerings in the range that led to Next Green Car Awards judges naming Hyundai as their Manufacturer of the Year.
The Next Green Car Awards team said: “While Hyundai’s Kona Electric has been making headlines this year, the company’s plug-in activities are far more significant than just one model. Now with the IONIQ Electric, IONIQ Plug-In, and Kona Electric, Hyundai is becoming a class-leading electric brand.”
Hyundai continues to invest in low and zero emissions powertrains, and is the only manufacturer to offer hybrid, plug-in hybrid, fully electric and Fuel Cell options. The NEXO Fuel Cell Vehicle is due to go on sale early in 2019, capable of travelling 414 zero emissions miles on each fill. NEXO even cleans the air as it drives, cleaning nearly a tonne of fine particulates from London’s air during October’s ‘Clean Driving Month’.
Tony Whitehorn, Hyundai Motor UK President and CEO, said: “We have a very clear mission to become a world-leader in electrified and fuel cell vehicles, and it gives me great pleasure to see that the big strides we have already achieved are gaining recognition. Our electric offerings, including Kona and IONIQ, represent extremely good value for money, are packed full of the latest technology and come as standard with the peace-of-mind that’s afforded by Hyundai’s five-year unlimited mileage and eight-year or 125,000-mile high voltage battery warranty. The future of both our fuel cell and other electrified powertrains is taking shape as we speak, but I guarantee you there’s much more to come.â€
Hyundai Motor Group recently revealed plans to secure a 500,000-units-a–year fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) production capacity by 2030, including passenger vehicles and commercial vehicles, in anticipation of high demand for global FCEVs, expanding to around two million units a year within that timeframe.
Hyundai’s commitment to reducing emissions across its line-up will see a total of 18 new electrified models introduced to the range by 2025, with three new fully electric vehicles by 2022.
*Including Plug-in Car Grant
