Exclusive: Hyundai Elexio electric SUV headed to Australia
New Chinese EV to be a price rival for Tesla Model Y and BYD Sealion 7The brand-new Hyundai Elexio battery-electric SUV has been locked in for Australian sale.
Recently spotted testing in Australia, the Elexio should follow the Hyundai IONIQ 9 on sale here by mid-2026 and become the seventh distinct EV model the Korean auto giant offers in Australia.
A left-hand-drive version of the Chinese-developed and manufactured Elexio has been spied testing in Australia recently.
But the Elexio’s chances of going on sale locally had been downplayed by Hyundai Australia.
However, carsales has learned from dealer sources the Elexio has been signed off for Australia as a bigger brother to the Inster and Kona Electric in Hyundai’s non-IONIQ EV line-up.
The Elexio name was filed for trademark by Hyundai in Australia in August 2023.
Contacted by carsales, a Hyundai Australia representative declined to comment on the Elexio’s local plans.
It will be a critical addition to Hyundai’s line-up as a medium-sized EV SUV that can be price competitive against Chinese-made rivals such as the BYD Sealion 7, Tesla Model Y, XPeng G6, Deepal S07 and in-house rival, the Kia EV5.
The Sealion 7, which was Australia’s top-selling EV in April, is priced from $54,990 plus on-road costs (ORCs) and the vehicle it deposed from top spot, the Model Y, is priced from $58,900 plus ORCs.
Currently, Hyundai has the smaller Kona Electric priced against these vehicles, while the IONIQ 5, Hyundai’s most relevant model to this segment on size, starts from $69,800 plus ORCs.
The Elexio is a brand-new vehicle developed by Beijing Hyundai, the co-venture between Hyundai and China’s BAIC. It will go on sale in China later this year.
But there is no question it is destined for export, as the tagline in English on the Beijing Hyundai website describes the Elexio as “In China for China to the world”.
The Elexio is based on Hyundai’s E-GMP EV platform – as per the IONIQ 5, 6 and 9 – but little more tech detail has been unveiled apart from a claimed 700km range on the CLTC standard.
The interior has also not been revealed, which means most of the focus has been on the exterior, especially the intriguing reverse D-pillar treatment.
Despite being an early EV mover in Australia, Hyundai desperately needs a potential sales volume vehicle like the Elexio to energise sales.
In April, it ranked only eighth on the EV sales list with 152 vehicles sold. BYD topped the list with 1639 sales, while Kia was second with 751 and MG third with 594.
The Elexio won’t be the only EV reinforcement for Hyundai in Australia. The aforementioned IONIQ 9 arrives in the July-September 2025 period, although little volume is expected from this $100K-plus luxury full-sized SUV.
A facelifted IONIQ 6 and its IONIQ 6 N high performance spin-off are due January-March 2026.
Related: Hyundai Inster 2025 Review
Related: SPY PICS: 2025 Hyundai Elexio spotted in Sydney
Related: Hyundai Kona Electric 2024 Review
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