Hyundai stands as No. 2 EV player in US market despite IRA

The front of Hyundai Motor's GV80 SUV / Yonhap

Korea's Hyundai Motor Group stands as the second-largest player in the U.S. market for electric vehicles (EVs) despite concerns surrounding Washington's protectionism policy, data showed Sunday.

Hyundai Motor Co. took up 4.8 percent of the U.S. EV market in the January-September period, with its smaller co-affiliate Kia accounting for 2.7 percent, according to U.S. magazine Automotive News.

Their combined market share came to 7.5 percent, or 64,000 vehicles, taking up the second-largest slice of the U.S. EV market following Tesla, which posted a 57.4 percent share, or 489,000 vehicles.

General Motors' Chevrolet brand accounted for 5.9 percent, followed by Ford Motor with 5.5 percent.

In the first nine months, overall EV registrations in the U.S. jumped 61 percent year-on-year to 852,904, the data said.

Automotive News expected EV registrations in the world's most important car market will exceed 1 million for the first time this year if EV sales continue to rise despite the slowing pace of growth.

Hyundai's latest performance came amid the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), which provides tax credits of up to $7,500 to purchasers of electric vehicles that are assembled in North America.

Currently, all Hyundai and Kia EVs sold in the North American market are manufactured in South Korea, making them ineligible to receive the credits. Nevertheless, their products can qualify for the support when used for commercial purposes, such as leasing. (Yonhap)