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Hyundai Canada Accepting Kona Electric Pre-Orders, California Is Not
8 H BY DOMENICK YONEY 20
Better act fast, eh.
If you reside in the Great White North and are anxious to be among the first to acquire a 2019 Hyundai Kona Electric after it launches, it’s time to pony up a bit of cash. The website of Hyundai Canada is now accepting pre-orders with a $1,000-deposit. This should secure you a place in line ahead of its arrival near the end of 2018. It is quite likely demand will far outstrip a limited supply for this first model year, so speed is probably of the essence.
More about the Hyundai Kona Electric
The news comes to us from InsideEVs Forum member “MCSqrd,” who started a thread to let us know he had already made his move. He also tells us his dealer said to expect Canadian pricing in August or September. So far, outside of South Korea, pricing has only released in Norway (base price for the 64 kWh version is 325,900 NOK ($39,813)) and the UK (base price for the 39 kWh version is 29,495 pounds ($39,090), while the 64 kWh option is 36,295 pounds ($48,100).
While it hasn’t yet been officially announced whether Canada will get both battery options, we suspect that, like the U.S., they will only be able to purchase the variant with the larger 64 kWh battery. The Canadian Hyundai website only speaks of the Kona Electric offering 400 km (248.5 miles) of range.
South of the border, meanwhile, plans seem still fuzzy. There’s been no official word from the U.S. communications team about pre-orders, so we called up a dealer in California to ask about deposits there. The gentleman we spoke to knew of the car, but said the dealership wasn’t collecting deposits at this time.
Our advice: if you live in California or one of the CARB states where the Kona Electric may be offered, contact your dealer and make sure a salesperson is ready to help you snap one up the moment they become available. If the response to the car on our shores is anything like the one in Norway, the U.S. allotment won’t last long.
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Source: InsideEVs Forum
Categories: Hyundai
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20 Comments on "Hyundai Canada Accepting Kona Electric Pre-Orders, California Is Not"
Pricing in The Netherlands is also available:
64 kWh starts at 39.195 Euro for Comfort version
41.495 for Fashion version and 44.995 for Premium version (only version available in 2018). We will receive ours in December when current car’s lease ends.
This includes VAT. The 39 kWh variant will start at 35.000 Euro. https://www.hyundai.nl/configurator/hyundai-kona-electric/
Still ~7,000 Euro too much for a car in that size and class, even if you factor in fuel and upkeep savings.
It’s a lot of money, agreed. My father is going to buy it and he needs the car this year (December). The Model 3 is too late for him (we live in the Netherlands and need new car this year) and other models are not really fitting his eye or lack many options and range too. For this money, the car is very well equipped (ventilated and heated seats, HUD, adaptive CC etc. are all standard on premium version which is only version for sale in 2018). The range is great too.
Pricing on Spain’s Hyundai site says starting at 33,300 euros (39kwh). Roughly translates to $39,000.
And 36,300 euros (64 kWh) or $42,400.
Hyundai is probably waiting for tax credit situation in US. Since Bolts are going for about $32K presubsidy in US, Hyundai at $42K won’t be competitive because consumers won’t be able to negotiate down a brand new model. But when (if?) tax credit winds down for GM, Hyundai could be competitive. I don’t consider Tesla 3, because that car isn’t available for another year or two to new buyers.
New car, Sparky? Congratulations! 😉
As for the pricing, I assume that there’s VAT included in the European prices we’ve seen, but I believe that EVs are VAT-exempt in Norway, which would explain the comparatively low price in otherwise very pricey Norway. While I agree that your theory is pretty plausible, I bet Hyundai would feel fairly confident going up against a slightly cheaper Bolt with the Kona’s more popular body style and better feature set. But you’re right, a $10k premium would be a bit of a stretch…
There is also 10% customs tariff in EU vs 2.5% in the US. Plus CARB credits in CARB states.
Yes, EVs (as in BEVs) are exempt of VAT (25%), and the even greater import taxes (that progressively behind more punishing the heavier, the more powerful, and the more polluting the car is).
That is indeed why the price in Norway is basically the same as in the US (sales tax not being included in quoted prices in the US).
The Kona EV/Niro EV will have a more popular CUV form-factor and it has more features, also has 100kW DCFC rate. The only problem is, with the current EV charging network, you will be stuck behind slow-charging cars like the Bolt or old Leaf.
I got my 2018 Leaf S last month for $31,300 out-the-door [less $15,500 in rebates etc], deciding I didn’t want to wait for the 60kWh LGs coming out this year and pay $10,000+ for just 20 more kWh, something I would only need on my rare intercity trips.
Didn’t see why any mfr would sell a single car anywhere close to invoice in CA when Canada and Norway are willing to pay so much for these very nice 60kWh cars.
I got my 2013 Leaf SV with 18k miles for $7500.
Can someone tell me how preordering a car works? Is there usually a deposit required? How much is generally required? Is that deposit refundable? Also, does going the pre-order route generally mean you’ll be paying full MSRP?
Not sure how Hyundai is managing this but in general you need to prove that you are serious by paying $500-1000 deposit – and only a company would make that non-refundable.
Also, only a high demand product would warrant a deposit, hence one should expect to pay full price.
Always depends here in the US on the dealer situation. IF, repeat IF you can work directly with a “fleet/internet” sales staff, you can negotiate a price or they will have a “fixed price” with some discount. Sometimes they will want/demand a deposit and others, if they are fully honest and responsible (a rare quality in the auto sales world) will simply take your name and model information and call you when the car comes to their dealership.
Full price list in Hungary : http://www.hyundai.hu/downloads/arlistak/Kona_EV_arlista.pdf?ref=79121
(FYI – 1 HUF = 276 USD, these prices inclusive of 27% (!) sales tax)
64kwh style edition : 42.400 USD (after EV incentive) and incl. sales tax
Hyundai is smart not offering the Kona Electric to US customers. With the Trump trade war heating up it is expected that South Korean imports will be hit with high tariffs this year. Many US reservations will be cancelled due to dramatically increased prices. In comparison, selling to Canadians is a sure bet.
You’re all kinds of wrong. See my reply above on why even a price of $45k is not too high for the few that get to purchase one of these in ca.
I just placed my deposit. Hopefully, the pricing will be competitive.
I’m in Vancouver, Canada. I just filled out an online reservation request and already received the following e-mail response from my local dealer. It doesn’t look like they have many vehicles available – and no mention of pricing.
“Hello Tom,
Thank you for your interest in the KONA electric. My name is………..I wanted to connect with your request to pre-order KONA electric, Ultimate.
Unfortunately we are running out of vehicles available for pre-orders. I will check with my managers though to see if we can fit yours in.
I will get back to you within 24 hours with a confirmation.
Best Regards”
The rest of the world understands that the vast majority of Americans are incredibly stupid, and willfully so. Automakers are no different, and they know they can easily keep selling ancient ICE vehicles to willfully ignorant Americans.