Hyundai Motor to open pre-orders for China-only Ioniq V on Thursday

The Ioniq V, the first China-localized model under the Ioniq brand. [Hyundai Motor]

Hyundai Motor is making a bold push to reclaim ground in China. The automaker will open pre-orders for the Ioniq V — a China-exclusive electric vehicle loaded with CATL batteries, Momenta driver-assist technology and a locally developed AI-powered smart cockpit — on Thursday. The move reflects a deliberate localization strategy aimed at reversing a prolonged sales slump in the world's largest auto market.

According to Chinese automotive media, Beijing Hyundai — the joint venture between Hyundai Motor and Beijing Automotive Group (BAIC) — will launch pre-orders for the Ioniq V at the 2026 Chengdu International Motor Show, which opens Thursday at the China West International Expo City in Chengdu, Sichuan Province. The vehicle's official market launch is scheduled for next month.

The Ioniq V is the first all-new model Beijing Hyundai is bringing to the Chinese market this year. A midsize electric fastback developed under the lead of Hyundai Motor's China Design Center to reflect local consumer preferences, it was first unveiled at the Beijing Motor Show in April.

Interior of the Ioniq V. [Hyundai Motor]

The vehicle is built around a China-first strategy at every level. It uses CATL's lithium iron phosphate battery: the standard variant pairs a 53.5 kWh pack with a 140 kW (188 hp) motor for a certified range of 520 to 540 km under Chinese standards, while the long-range model gets a 66.8 kWh battery and a 168 kW (225 hp) motor stretching range to 620 to 650 km. Both variants feature an 800V high-voltage system.

Hyundai Motor also invested heavily in the "intelligent" features that Chinese EV makers have used as a competitive edge. The Ioniq V comes with a 27-inch ultra-wide 4K display and Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8295 automotive chip. Its infotainment system integrates Chinese AI large language models, including ByteDance's Doubao and Baidu's Wenxin Yiyan.

For driver-assist functions, Beijing Hyundai partnered with Chinese firm Momenta. The system is calibrated for China's complex road conditions and delivers L2+ driver-assistance capabilities covering both urban and highway driving scenarios.

Local industry observers say the configuration directly addresses the in-car digital features and driver-assist performance that have long been cited as weaknesses of joint-venture EV brands in China. Chinese automotive outlet Migetanqiche noted that Beijing Hyundai chose to actively tap the local technology ecosystem rather than rely solely on its own proprietary systems.

The design also sets the Ioniq V apart from the rest of the Ioniq lineup. The car measures 4,900 mm in length, 1,890 mm in width and 1,470 mm in height, with a 2,900 mm wheelbase. It features a low wedge-shaped body, a steeply raked roofline and frameless doors fitted with laminated sound-insulating glass. The drag coefficient is 0.230.

Visitors crowd around the Ioniq V at the 2026 Beijing International Motor Show (Auto China 2026) on April 25 (local time). [Kwon Je-in]

Inside, the front seatbacks recline up to 86 degrees, and the ambient lighting shifts with cabin temperature, vehicle speed and driving mode — features that have become standard expectations in China's EV market.

Local observers, however, say the Ioniq V's ultimate success will hinge on pricing. Its single-motor lineup — 140 kW and 168 kW — trails the high-output dual-motor configurations and sub-three-second zero-to-100 km/h times that rival Chinese electric sedans advertise. Beijing Hyundai appears to be betting instead on efficiency and practicality, emphasizing the 800V architecture, low aerodynamic drag and long range over outright performance.

One local outlet said the Ioniq V "has drawn attention with its design and localized smart experience, but to establish itself in China's pure-EV market, it will need to prove competitive on final pricing, driving performance and build quality."

The Ioniq V, the first China-market strategic model under the Ioniq brand. [Hyundai Motor]

The stakes are high for Hyundai Motor. The company sold 6,610 vehicles in China in July, a 46.8 percent drop from the same month a year earlier. Local players including BYD, Geely and Xpeng have rapidly tightened their grip on the market with EVs and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, leaving foreign automakers with shrinking room to maneuver.

Industry watchers in China point to models such as Xpeng's Mona M03 as the Ioniq V's primary competition. There is also speculation that an extended-range electric vehicle variant could be added to the lineup.

Whether the Ioniq V will be sold outside China remains undecided. Hyundai Motor has said it currently has no plans to launch the model in markets beyond China, though some Chinese media outlets have suggested the possibility of exporting China-built units to overseas markets in the future.

kwater@heraldcorp.com