Hyundai revealed Wednesday the new Ioniq 9, an all-electric three-row SUV — and its largest EV to date — based on the SEVEN concept that we saw in 2021. (Look, nobody said car-naming protocol had to make sense.)
The SUV, which made its debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show, joins the smaller Ioniq 5 SUV and Ioniq 6 sedan as Hyundai works towards its goal of 23 all-electric models by 2030. And with Hyundai skipping the 7 and 8 nameplate, the automaker has left itself open for future products.
I got a glimpse of the Ioniq 9 ahead of its debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show. While I didn’t get to drive it, I was impressed by the interior space and overall design, and disappointed by the omission of a few key – and cool– elements we saw on the SEVEN concept car.
Not that I can fault Hyundai. I blame U.S regulations for Hyundai opting out of a second row seating that can swivel to face the third row. I mean, how cool would it be for big sister to swivel her second-row seat around to torture her baby brother? As someone who doesn’t have kids, I’m into it. We also won’t get the digital side mirrors. Once you see a car without side mirrors you’ll realize how unsightly they really are – like an ugly pimple on a supermodel’s face.
The Hyundai Ioniq 9 also won’t get the pillarless coach doors that were teased on the SEVEN concept; and the only nod to the SUV’s “hygienic interior” is a UV-C sterilizer that can decontaminate smaller items like phones, wallets, and masks.
Still, there is enough to like about the production Ioniq 9. The design is stunning with the Ioniq line-up’s signature pixelated lighting. I loved it when I first saw it on the Ioniq 5 and I love it here. The rear boat-tail design is equally appealing with just a touch of Volvo XC90 styling in the tail light shape. From the side the windswept roofline looks great, emphasized by the steeply raked windshield.
However, the fender design leaves me a little perplexed. On lower trims, the fender is blacked out, giving the illusion of a squared-off design, highlighted by a body-colored eyebrow at the top. However, the blacked-out section seems out of proportion, making it look like the wheels are too small. Further, in upper trims without the blacked-out fenders, the separate eyebrow piece remains, sticking out like a sore thumb. Unless you know the whole story it doesn’t make sense. In fact, the first note I wrote when they took the cover off the car was, “What’s up with the fender?”
The Ioniq 9 has the longest wheelbase of any Hyundai on the market, and that translates to plenty of interior space and a flat floor. Although the second-row seats don’t swivel, they do have a footrest and will recline for quick naps. Taller folks might find that their toes don’t quite clear the back of the first row, but I imagine it’s still a comfy way to spend a road trip. The first row driver and passenger seats can also recline for a snooze while charging.
The second-row seats in the pre-production model I sat in wouldn’t slide forward, so the third row was particularly cramped, long wheelbase notwithstanding. Don’t expect to fit an adult back there and have an adult reclining in the second row, but I can’t make a judgment on how the second and third rows share the interior space until I get into a production vehicle with fully-baked seats.
There is plenty of room for cargo inside, with a cool sliding center console that can be opened from the first or second rows. The two-tiered structure is plenty roomy, but I wish it were cooled. Everyone needs a cold road soda, right? As for larger item storage, there is nearly 47 cubic feet of space in the rear with the third row folded down and the Ioniq 9 has a frunk with up to 3 cubic feet of additional stowage.
Like other Ioniq products, the dash design is sleek and pleasing. There is a 12-inch digital gauge cluster augmented by a 12-inch infotainment touchscreen all under one pane of glass. The HVAC system gets manual buttons and dials so there is no need to avert your gaze from the road just to up the temperature a few degrees.
Also here are 100-watt USB-C ports for all three rows and a standard outlet in the cargo area to use the car’s 110.3 kWh battery to power outside appliances if need be.
Although I didn’t get a chance to drive the Ioniq 9, Hyundai provided a few specs to whet my appetite. The SUV will be available in rear- or all-wheel drive with the ability to charge from 10-80% at a 350 kW charger in optimal conditions via its NACS charging port. Buyers can choose a Long Range model that offers 335 miles on a charge with rear wheel drive (no range specs were offered for all-wheel drive), or a Performance model that favors higher horsepower and torque.
I noticed that the usual drive modes of Comfort and Sport are augmented with a Terrain mode, with further sub-modes for Mud, Snow and Sand. I can’t imagine folks driving this thing through the desert, but then again Hyundai has fielded the Telluride in the tough-as-nails Rebelle Rally and come up on the podium more than once, so who knows?
For those who want a bit of customization, Hyundai has a new Features on Demand system. Looking for a cool lighting signature upon opening the door? How about a theme for the infotainment screen? Just go to Hyundai’s online store and you’ll be able to purchase and download digital upgrades to your heart’s content.
No word on pricing yet but Hyundai says the Ioniq 9 will qualify for the full $7,500 tax credit, assuming the next administration doesn’t cut those incentives to ribbons. Look for the SUV in the Spring of 2025.
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May Mobility is slowly advancing its driverless capabilities. The startup this week launched a small-scale deployment of autonomous shuttles, which will drive themselves along a fixed route without a human safety driver present. May will initially deploy one to two autonomous Toyota Sienna minivans to ferry employees and “invited guests” across a 2-square-mile area of the city.
This is the second city where May is performing so-called “driver-out” operations. In December 2023, the startup began driverless testing in a planned community in Sun City, Arizona, where it is currently carrying passengers for free.
May Mobility co-founder and CEO Edwin Olson said starting “driver-out” operations in a second city in under a year shows the scalability of its technology. He added it also expands the driverless system’s capabilities to challenging weather, higher speeds and busy traffic.
May Mobility says it hopes to expand driverless testing in 2025 to Peachtree Corners, Georgia, where the startup currently tests with a safety driver.
The startup also plans to bring its AVs to the Lyft app in Atlanta next year as part of a multi-year partnership with the ride-hail firm.
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Pony AI, the Chinese autonomous vehicle startup that’s looking to go public on the Nasdaq stock exchange, now wants to raise around $260 million, according to a new regulatory filing.
That’s up from its previous target of around $224 million. To meet the goal, Pony will sell as many as 20 million American depository shares. That’s still down from the much higher target of $425 million, which Pony was aiming for earlier this year before its board approved a reduction of its minimum valuation from around $8 billion to $4 billion.
Pony has had its struggles with early testing in the United States, including losing its permit to test AVs in 2022. Meanwhile, it maintains a fleet of 190 “robotrucks” in Beijing and Guangzhou, plus 250 robotaxis in Beijing, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and Shanghai.
This has led some, including former Waymo CEO john Krafcik to question why Pony is gunning for a U.S. IPO? There is still demand for Chinese AV companies on U.S. exchanges. But the shifting financial target suggests Pony is still crafting the exact answer to that question.
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