After 11 years of competing in the automotive industry, the Hyundai Motor Company will reportedly end the production of the Veloster next month.
Hyundai Veloster
In a report by Hankyung, the 3-door hatchback will exit the lineup in favor of the next-generation Kona. Hyundai Motor Company will use its resources to develop and produce the all-new version of its subcompact crossover. The Hyundai Avante N, better known as the Elantra N in our market, will also benefit from the discontinuation as the company plans to bolster its production.
Now that hatchbacks are becoming a niche market and car buyers are choosing crossovers, the Korean automaker’s move of shifting its focus on the next-gen Kona is expected to boost its sales globally. In fact, the Veloster N is selling fewer units since the introduction of the Elantra N. No exact details about the Kona’s all-new version have been released.
A nameplate that was born in 2011
But considering that the vision of Hyundai toward electrification is made clear, the upcoming Kona is expected to offer hybrid and electrified versions. The company will also end the production of the Ioniq to become a new Hyundai sub-brand. It aims to sell fully electric vehicles (EVs), hybrid models, and plug-in hybrids.
With all that being said, the Hyundai Veloster nameplate won’t be part of the brand’s rebuilding process in the Philippine market. Hyundai Motor Philippines has been appointed as the new manager of the brand’s passenger car lineup, making Hyundai Asia Resources, Inc. (HARI) responsible for commercial vehicles.
It will reach the end of production
As of this writing, the confirmed models in the local lineup consist of the all-new Tucson, all-new Staria, Creta, and Santa Fe. Despite the company’s push to prioritize the Kona nameplate, reports suggest that the subcompact crossover will not be part of the Philippine lineup moving forward. Instead, the facelifted Palisade could be the Creta’s ally in growing the brand’s crossover/SUV lineup.
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