Hyundai just announced a new EV that looks like a less dorky Cybertruck, and it\u2019s a lot more practical than Tesla\u2019s upcoming two-seat Cybercab.<\/p>\n
The Korean automaker unveiled the IONIQ V today at the 2026 Beijing Auto Show. The new EV, with a distinctive single-curve silhouette, is part of Hyundai\u2019s push to revive its EV business in China. It\u2019s the first model from Hyundai\u2019s IONIQ EV lineup available in China, as well as the first dedicated IONIQ production vehicle built specifically for the Chinese market.<\/p>\n
The car arrives as Hyundai\u2019s sales in China have struggled amid intense local competition. In 2024, the company sold just 125,726 vehicles in the country. Meanwhile, BYD cemented its dominance, becoming the world\u2019s largest EV seller after delivering more than 2 million electric vehicles globally that same year.<\/p>\n
\u201cChina is an essential market for Hyundai Motor Company. The world\u2019s most demanding EV consumers, the fastest development cycles, the deepest battery supply chain, and an advanced innovation ecosystem. That is why we are tripling down on our commitment to China,\u201d said Hyundai Motor Company CEO Jos\u00e9 Mu\u00f1oz in a press release.<\/p>\n This car is just the first step in Hyundai\u2019s bigger EV comeback plan for China. The automaker and its local partner, BAIC Group, committed a combined 8 billion yuan (about $1.2 billion) to their Beijing Hyundai joint venture under a deal reached in December 2024.<\/p>\n The IONIQ V is the first of 20 new models Hyundai plans to introduce in China over the next five years. The company is also aiming to reach 500,000 annual vehicle sales in the market.<\/p>\n Hyundai says the long-range version of the IONIQ V will offer over 600 km (about 372 miles) of driving range under China\u2019s CLTC testing standard. That\u2019s not bad, but it still lags behind some high-end Chinese EVs. BYD\u2019s premium brand Denza, for example, recently unveiled the Z9 GT with an estimated range of over 1,000 km (about 644 miles).<\/p>\n Inside, Hyundai is leaning hard into a minimalist, screen-heavy design. The IONIQ V largely skips physical controls in favor of a 27-inch ultra-thin 4K panoramic display. It also ditches a traditional instrument cluster, relying instead on a head-up display. That approach stands in contrast to some automakers that are starting to bring back physical buttons, but it\u2019s still not as over-the-top as BMW\u2019s recently announced 7 Series EV, which is loaded with screens, including one that stretches across the bottom part of the windshield.<\/p>\n Still, despite those few drawbacks, the IONIQ V\u2019s unique exterior design will undoubtedly turn some heads. Unfortunately, for now, you\u2019ll only be able to get your hands on one in China.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n![\"Hyundai](\"https:\/\/gizmodo.com\/app\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Hyundai_Ioniq_interior.jpg\")