EVs are the future. However, the company told us that efficient ICEs will not be dropping anytime soon.
Most of us stayed home to recharge our batteries for the next year, the week between Christmas Eve and New Year. Business Korea, The Korea Economic Daily reported on the automaker closing its R&D division responsible for combustion engines.
We immediately contacted Hyundai to confirm or demolish the speculations by the media in South Korea. Now, we have a response from an official representative of the company. Michael Stewart, Senior Group Manager for Hyundai Motor America, stated in an email to Motor1.com:
According to Hyundai Motor Group, it has not stopped development of its engines in light of recent media speculation. The Group is committed to offering a wide range of powertrains to its global customers. This includes both highly efficient engines as well as zero emission electric motors.
You can see that Hyundai isn’t done with the ICE yet. This is not surprising given the official announcement that Hyundai would become a solely electric brand by 2035 in Europe last September. If the EU’s proposal to ban conventionally-powered vehicles is approved, the Old Continent could be the first region of the world to eliminate gasoline and diesel engines from passenger cars.
There is still much to do in 2035. With Euro 7 regulations coming into force in the second half of 2010, Hyundai needs to continue to improve combustion engines so they are cleaner and more efficient. The Asian brand aims for EVs to be sold in all major markets by 2040. In 18 years, 80 percent of global sales will be made by battery-electric and fuel-cell electric vehicles.
A separate report by The Chosun Ilbo claimed that Hyundai had stopped the development of next generation fuel cell technology. It was published in the last days of 2021. This was also false as Maeil Business received a response from a company spokesperson , who denied the speculation and claimed that its roadmap for next-generation fuel cells development and electrification remains unchanged.”
Hyundai is advancing on all fronts, offering a variety of powertrains to fit different market preferences. Although the combustion engine may be on borrowed time, it will not disappear overnight.