Hyundai Motor Group Vice Chairman Jang Jae-hoon met with CATL Chairman Zeng Yuqun in Beijing and reaffirmed their commitment to work together as Hyundai steps up its China strategy.
Jang and Zeng met at the 2026 Beijing Auto China show, where Hyundai unveiled the China-focused electric vehicle Ioniq V.
Jang made an unannounced visit to the show floor to view the Ioniq V, which Hyundai said it revealed for the first time in the world. Zeng also visited Hyundai’s booth to congratulate the company on the launch. The Ioniq V uses a battery developed in cooperation with CATL, and Hyundai expects a driving range of more than 600 kilometers on a single charge under China’s CLTC standard.
“China is the most difficult market, but it is also a market where we must succeed,” Jang told reporters. “We will learn a lot and take a lot away.”
He said electrification and smart technologies are already widespread in China, and Hyundai will focus on how it can differentiate itself with specific technical strengths. He added he hopes the newly launched Ioniq will receive a strong response. Zeng was also reported to have applauded the Ioniq V and expressed support for its success.
Hyundai executives attending included Munoz; Park Min-woo, head of Hyundai’s Advanced Vehicle Platform (AVP) division; and Zhang Jianyong, vice president of BAIC Group, Hyundai’s joint-venture partner in China.
“China is the market with the most advanced ecosystem in electric vehicles and software-defined vehicles,” Munoz said. “To secure global competitiveness, we must prove real competitiveness in China, so we will build a new future in China through a pipeline of 20 new-vehicle developments over the next five years.”
After viewing the Ioniq V, Park said the design was “bold and beautiful,” adding he hopes the results for the newly launched Ioniq in China will be strong. On Momenta, the Chinese autonomous-driving company whose technology is applied to the Ioniq V, Park said he had been familiar with Chinese technologies since his time at Nvidia and had driven them. He said Hyundai will proceed without setbacks in preparing to internalize autonomous-driving technology.
Hyundai said the Ioniq V incorporates a CATL battery, Momenta autonomous-driving technology and platform technology co-developed with BAIC. The company’s strategy is to deepen its integration into China’s electrification ecosystem by strengthening development partnerships with local firms. Hyundai’s goal is to build an annual sales base of 500,000 vehicles through 20 electrified new models aimed at the China market over the next five years.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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