Hyundai’s all-electric Ioniq 5 SUV sweeps World Car Awards

Industry

Published: 14 Apr. 2022, 17:36

Hyundai’s all-electric Ioniq 5 SUV sweeps World Car Awards

Hyundai Motor CEO and President Chang Jae-hoon holds up the trophy after winning the World Car of the Year award in New York on Wednesday. [HYUNDAI MOTOR]

Hyundai Motor’s all-electric Ioniq 5 SUV won big at the 2022 World Car Awards held in New York on Wednesday.

The electric vehicle (EV) won the World Car of the Year award as well as World Electric Vehicle of the Year and World Design of the Year, snatching three of the six awards presented at the event.

World Car of the Year is considered one of the three big car awards along with the North American Car and Truck of the Year, also known as the Nactoy, and the Europe Car of the Year.

Kia's EV6 won the Europe Car of the Year which was announced in February.

For the World Car of the Year award, the Ioniq 5 competed against 27 models that launched last year. Kia’s EV6 and Ford’s Mustang Mach-E were its final two rivals.

Candidates were evaluated by a jury of 102 auto journalists from 33 countries around the world.

For World Electric Vehicle of the Year, Hyundai’s Ioniq 5 beat Kia’s EV6 and Audi’s e-tron GT. In the design segment, it competed against Audi’s e-tron GT and Mercedes’ EQS sedan.

“Ioniq 5 represents a pivotal achievement for us as we pioneer a new generation of smart mobility solutions with our innovative E-GMP platform technologies, exceptional performance and disruptive approach to design and space” said Chang Jae-hoon, CEO and President of Hyundai Motor at the ceremony.

“Ioniq 5 has made a strong impression on increasingly eco-conscious consumers around the world, and its success supports the acceleration of the electrification of the automotive industry.”

This is not the first time Hyundai Motor's Ioniq 5 has taken home a top prize from a car awards since its global launch last year.

It was named the German Car of the Year, UK Car of the Year, Auto Express' Car of the Year as well as Auto Bild's Electric Car of the Year, among others.

The recognition marks significant development compared to what Hyundai Motor's internal combustion engine vehicles have achieved over the past decades.

Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Euisun Chung's "first mover" strategy is considered to have boosted the competitiveness of the Korean automaker's EV lineup.

"In the era of internal combustion engine vehicles, Hyundai Motor was a fast follower," Chung said.

"But in the era of EVs where every carmaker is starting from the same point, Hyundai Motor has to take the lead and become a first mover with overwhelming quality and value."

Chung emphasized the importance of quality to continue the company's leadership in the global EV market in a meeting with Korean journalists in New York after the award ceremony on Wednesday.

"We have a lot to do with quality," Chung said.

"There is a lot of software in EVs and we must pursue perfection [...] Not making any problem is important, but also fixing a problem when it arises without causing any inconvenience is also important."

Lead by Hyundai Motor's Ioniq 5 and Kia's EV6, Hyundai Motor Group sold a total of 252,719 pure EVs last year, becoming the world's fifth-biggest EV company.

Hyundai Motor plans to launch the all-electric Ioniq 6 this year, followed by the Ioniq 7 next year.

Kia will launch the all-electric EV6 GT this year followed by the EV9 next year.