Hyundai’s EV effort similar to Toyota’s ‘Prius family’ venture

The Ioniq title, which melds the words “ion” and “exclusive,” is not compared with Volkswagen’s use of the ID moniker for its electric powered car or truck lineup. Cadillac will employ names ending in “-iq” for EVs — like the coming Lyriq. Audi has E-tron, and Normal Motors is reviving the Hummer title for an electric powered pickup.

But the historical past of subbrands has not generally been type, as Sam Abuelsamid, principal exploration analyst at Guidehouse Insights, details out. Toyota’s energy to create a Prius household of motor vehicles several years back by including a wagon and a scaled-down hatchback was discontinued as profits fell with the rise of crossovers.

What is actually noteworthy in Toyota’s energy is that the engineering alone was a achievement: Toyota now offers hybrid powertrains across most of its lineup and is launching a hybrid-only crossover and minivan.

“The exact same detail that occurred with the Prius household is likely to come about with Ioniq,” Abuelsamid warned. “They’re going to start it. It will possibly have just one, possibly two generations of motor vehicles — and then quietly fade absent as electric powered powertrains become ubiquitous all through the lineup, a lot like hybrid powertrains did at Toyota.”

As a transitional phase, Abuelsamid explained unique naming for EVs can be beneficial for marketing and advertising and buyer awareness. “I imagine Hyundai possibly acknowledges that it really is an interim phase to display what they are carrying out with electric powered,” he explained. “Automakers are making an attempt to determine how they can truly promote these motor vehicles.”