Hyundai and Kia are betting big on lower-priced electric vehicles, and so far, it’s paying off. With more arriving soon, the South Korean auto giant is laying the groundwork for what’s shaping up to be a strong run.
Hyundai and Kia are betting on low-cost EVs.
Since launching the EV3 in Europe in late 2024, Kia’s compact electric SUV has quickly become one of the most popular EVs in the region.
The EV3 was the best-selling retail EV in the UK and ranked sixth in Europe in the first half of 2025. Hyundai’s Inster EV, which also arrived in late 2024, is now also gaining traction.
According to the latest figures, Hyundai Motor Group, including Kia, sold 103,476 compact EVs in Europe from January through September.
The Kia EV3 remains a hot seller, leading the surge with 55,514 units sold in the first nine months of 2025. At this pace, the EV3 is now expected to become Hyundai’s top-selling electric vehicle in Europe by the end of the year, outpacing the Kona Electric and IONIQ 5.
Hyundai sold 20,493 Inster EVs in Europe through September, right behind the Kona Electric at 21,224. With full-scale sales kicking off, the Inster EV is expected to surpass the Kona by the end of 2025.
By the end of 2025, Hyundai Motor Group, including Kia, expects to sell over 200,000 electric vehicles in Europe this year.
The Inster EV was “Germany’s best-selling electric small car” through July, according to Ulrich Mechau, President & CEO of Hyundai Motor Germany.
With new mass-market electric vehicles, including the Kia EV2, EV4, EV5, and the Hyundai IONIQ 3, rolling out or set to launch in 2026, Hyundai expects to see even more demand in Europe over the next few years.
Top comment by Actually Thoughtful
We own a used Kia EV6 from 2022 - great car. However, ALL Kia and Hyundai vehicles are subject to an ICCU failure that can take months to resolve, and doesn't actually guarantee a fix, as they haven't corrected the problem. There is some set of (unknown) conditions that kills the charging system, and your car is then a boat anchor.
Wouldn't it be wonderful if electrek reached out and asked Hyundai/KIa what was going on, and got to the bottom of this for the corporations and hundreds of thousands of E-GMP platform owners?
What about those in the US? Well, the low-cost Kia EV2 and Hyundai IONIQ 3 will not be offered in the States, but Kia is expected to introduce the EV3 sometime in 2026. It’s also set to launch the EV4 early next year, likely starting at around $35,000.
Meanwhile, Hyundai already offers one of the most affordable electric vehicles in the US with the IONIQ 5. After the federal tax credit expired at the end of September, Hyundai reduced prices on the 2026 IONIQ 5 by nearly $10,000 on some trims. The 2026 Hyundai IONIQ 5 now starts at under $35,000.
The IONIQ 5 remains one of the top-selling EVs in the US, alongside the Tesla Model Y, Model 3, Chevy Equinox EV, Honda Prologue, and Ford Mustang Mach-E.
Want to see one for yourself? We’ve made it easy for you. You can use our links below to find Hyundai and Kia’s electric vehicles in your area.
- Find Hyundai IONIQ 5 models near you
- Find Hyundai IONIQ 6 models near you
- Find Hyundai IONIQ 9 models near you
- Find Hyundai Kona Electric models near you
- Find Kia EV6 models near you
- Find Kia EV9 models near you
- Find Kia Niro EV and Hybrid models near you
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