The Kona EV will not be available for the 2026 model year, but Hyundai says the electric SUV is not gone for good. Until then, it will still offer 2025 models. Hyundai Kona EV skips 2026 model year, returns in 2027 Not another one! Hyundai is reportedly temporarily halting Kona EV production as it works to unload 2025 models. A Hyundai spokesperson confirmed the plans to Car and Driver, saying, “There is adequate stock of 2025 model year Kona Electric to manage consumer demand for the model at this time.” Don’t worry, the compact electric SUV will make a return. The company spokesperson said, “Kona Electric production will return after a short hiatus, with assembly scheduled to resume this June as a 2027 model year.” Advertisement - scroll for more content While it didn’t specify why it’s pausing production, Hyundai’s EV sales have slowed, like those of most automakers, after the $7,500 federal tax credit expired at the end of September. Killing off the tax credit pulled forward demand and “temporarily disrupted the market,” Hyundai Motor North America’s president and CEO, Randy Parker, said in November. Parker previously said he is confident the EV market will reset. 2025 Hyundai Kona Electric (Source: Hyundai) Despite setting a new January sales record in the US last month, Hyundai’s EV sales didn’t fare as well. Sales of the IONIQ 5 fell 6% to 2,126, IONIQ 6 sales dropped 61% to just 344 units, and Hyundai sold another 580 IONIQ 9 models in January. Top comment by Navarre Liked by 3 people The Kona and Niro EVs don't make a lot of sense with the i5 being at it's current price and the EV3 being on the E-GMP platform as well.I wonder if there will be an EV version of the new Kona, or we'll see an Ioniq 4 that is the Crater-esque smaller EV. The i5 is a boat, so it would be nice to have something smaller, especially if the pricing makes sense. View all comments Hyundai doesn’t break down Kona sales by powertrain, but combined sales (EV, HEV, and ICE) rose 22% last month from January 2025. 2025 Hyundai Kona EV (Source: Hyundai) The announcement comes after Volkswagen revealed similar plans for the electric ID.Buzz in December. VW is also skipping the 2026 model year for the ID.Buzz with plans to bring it back in 2027. Kia has also indefinitely delayed a few EVs that were destined for the US, including the EV4, due to new US auto tariffs and other policy changes. While the Kona EV is on pause, recent sightings in South Korea (you can see them here) suggest the electric SUV is undergoing a complete overhaul. Local reports suggest Hyundai is skipping a mid-cycle refresh and will introduce a revamped Kona that takes influence from the Crater Concept showcased at last year’s LA Auto Show. Stay up to date with the latest content by subscribing to Electrek on Google News. You’re reading Electrek— experts who break news about Tesla, electric vehicles, and green energy, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow Electrek on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Don’t know where to start? Check out our YouTube channel for the latest reviews.
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