Hyundai just announced a new electric vehicle that looks like a less dumb Cybertruck and is much more practical than Tesla’s upcoming two-seat Cybercab.
The Korean automaker today unveiled the IONIQ V at the 2026 Beijing Motor Show. The new electric vehicle, with a distinctive single-curve silhouette, is part of Hyundai’s push to revive its electric vehicle business in China. It is the first model in Hyundai’s IONIQ EV lineup available in China, as well as the first dedicated IONIQ production vehicle built specifically for the Chinese market.
The car comes at a time when Hyundai’s sales in China have struggled amid intense local competition. In 2024, the company sold only 125,726 vehicles in the country. Meanwhile, BYD consolidated its dominance, becoming the world’s largest seller of electric vehicles after delivering more than 2 million electric vehicles worldwide that same year.
“China is an essential market for Hyundai Motor Company. The world’s most demanding electric vehicle consumers, the fastest development cycles, the deepest battery supply chain and an advanced innovation ecosystem. That’s why we are tripling our commitment to China,” said Hyundai Motor Company CEO José Muñoz in a Press release.
This car is just the first step in Hyundai’s larger EV comeback plan for China. The automaker and its local partner, BAIC Group, committed a combined total of 8 billion yuan (about $1.2 billion) to their Beijing Hyundai joint venture under a deal reached in December 2024.
The IONIQ V is the first of 20 new models that Hyundai plans to introduce in China over the next five years. The company also aims to reach 500,000 annual vehicle sales in the market.
Hyundai says the long-range version of the IONIQ V will offer more than 600 km (about 372 miles) of range based on China’s CLTC test standard. That’s not bad, but it’s still behind some high-end Chinese EVs. BYD’s premium brand Denza, for example, recently introduced the Z9 GT with an estimated autonomy of more than 1,000 km (about 644 miles).
Inside, Hyundai leans heavily toward a minimalist design with lots of screens. The IONIQ V largely skips physical controls in favor of an ultra-thin 27-inch 4K widescreen display. It also ditches a traditional instrument cluster, relying instead on a head-up display. That approach contrasts with that of some automakers that are beginning to bring back physical buttonsbut it’s still not as exaggerated as BMW’s. Recently announced the Series 7 EVwhich is loaded with screens, including one that extends across the bottom of the windshield.
Still, despite those few drawbacks, the IONIQ V’s unique exterior design will certainly turn heads. Unfortunately, for now, you’ll only be able to get one in China.
