The Casper EV (Image courtesy of Hyundai Motor Co.)
SEOUL, Sept. 23 (Korea Bizwire) — Hyundai Motor is making inroads into Europe’s most competitive markets, including France, Germany and the United Kingdom, where local and German brands have long dominated.
The push is fueled by the popularity of its affordable Inster electric vehicle — sold in Korea as the Casper EV — and steady demand for SUVs such as the Tucson and Kona.
In France, Hyundai sold 3,552 vehicles in August, up 30.9 percent from a year earlier, according to the French Automobile Manufacturers Committee.
The Tucson led with 1,323 units sold, while the Kona EV and Inster ranked seventh and ninth among all electric models nationwide. France, where EVs now account for 26 percent of new car sales, is one of Europe’s fastest-electrifying markets. Hyundai climbed to eighth place in monthly brand rankings, just seven units shy of BMW.
Tucson model. (Image courtesy of Hyundai Motor Co.)
Germany and the U.K., Europe’s two largest auto markets, have also become bright spots. In Germany, 28 percent of Hyundai’s sales this year through July were EVs, well above the national average of 17.8 percent. The Inster led Hyundai’s German lineup with 6,341 units sold, placing it among the top 15 electric vehicles overall.
In Britain, Hyundai sold 60,272 vehicles from January to August, up 4.3 percent year on year, lifting its brand ranking to sixth place. The Tucson SUV drove much of that success, selling 18,382 units and breaking into the U.K.’s top ten model list.
Hyundai is betting on Europe’s accelerating electrification to expand further. At the IAA Mobility 2025 show in Munich, the company unveiled “Concept Three,” the first small EV under its Ioniq brand, signaling its intent to strengthen its foothold with models tailored for the region.
Kevin Lee (kevinlee@koreabizwire.com)
