30/09/2026
Happy Hyundai! To celebrate 40 years in Australia, we’re looking back at our top 9 hybrid and EV milestones from 1986 to 2026.
Our electric revolution began in 1991 with the SONATA EV concept, proving early on that our ambitions extended beyond internal combustion.
The first Hyundai hybrid concept car, the FGV-1, debuted in 1995, using a petrol engine as a generator to power its electric motor.
In 2000, the SANTA FE FCEV advanced our hydrogen tech, packing a 75kW fuel cell and 230km range, paving the way for today’s NEXO.
The ix35 Fuel Cell arrived in Australia in 2014, followed by the announcement of a hydrogen refuelling station in Sydney in 2015.
In 2019, the IONIQ became the world’s first model to offer hybrid, plug-in hybrid and fully electric powertrains.
Launched in 2019, the KONA Electric not only brought an accessible EV SUV to Australia, it also became the first EV crash-tested on home soil.
In 2021, the IONIQ 5 debuted our E-GMP platform, featuring 18-minute fast charging (10–80%) and V2L technology to power 240V devices.
That same year, we deployed NEXO fuel-cell SUVs to the ACT Government, marking Australia’s first certified, road-approved FCEV fleet.
In 2024, the IONIQ 5 N revolutionised EV performance with simulated gearshifts and acoustics, proving that zero-emission track cars can be as engaging as those with engines.
And that brings us to today, with our award-winning range of SUVs, EVs and high-performance vehicles. Here’s to the next 40 years! To learn more, visit the link in our bio.
