After Hyundai-Kia Motor Company starts to mass-produce its electric vehicle called IONIQ in this June, it is going to release an electric vehicle that can drive for 200 miles (about 320 km) in first half of 2018. Afterwards, it will also release an electric vehicle version of its luxury car called ‘Genesis’.

According to an industry on the 26th, Hyundai Motor Company has prepared ‘3 Steps of Long-Term Road Map of Electric Vehicles’, which has information about improving mileage and performance step by step, and started on actual development.

Hyundai introduced IONIQ Electric, which can drive up to 180km with just one charge, in March. It is planning to mass-produce IONIQ starting from June and has been carrying out public subscriptions in Jeju Island since March. Although IONIQ Electric captured first place out of 7 electric cars (sedan only) during first public subscription by taking up about 65% of shares, electric vehicles that can drive more than 300km with just one charge will be released in South Korea starting from next year. A picture of GM’s first BEV (Battery Electric Vehicle) called Bolt having a drive test on actual streets in South Korea was captured. Bolt can drive up to 200 miles with one charge. Tesla’s Model 3 will be release at the end of 2017 and it can be officially released in South Korea in first half of 2018 at the earliest.

Hyundai Motor Company is planning to release vehicles that can compete against these electric vehicles sometime during first half of 2018. It is heard that it is planning to release SUV models rather than a mid-sized sedan like IONIQ.

It is also going to release electric vehicle version of its luxury vehicles and announced that it will release total of 26 types of eco-friendly vehicles by 2020. This is 4 more than its previous plan and there is a high chance that these 4 types will be electric vehicles.

A representative for Hyundai Motor Company said that Hyundai cannot disclose any information about possible development of electric vehicles.

Staff Reporter Mun, Bokyung | okmun@etnews.com