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Hyundai Motor is sending its IONIQ 5 electric vehicle models to Japan as part of a deal with the local taxi operator, MK Taxi. The South Korean automaker will be delivering 50 EV units to the Kyoto-based firm, and the number is expected to gradually increase and reach 700 over the following years.
As per The Korea Times, Hyundai Motor’s IONIQ 5 EVs will be used as taxis in Japan, and this was confirmed on Wednesday, July 20. It was noted that this deal with MK Taxi is actually paving the way for the automaker to enter the Japanese electric vehicle market later.
This is just the right time to return to the Japanese market since Hyundai has already expressed its goal of selling its cars again in the country. It has been 12 years since the company withdrew its business operations due to the decline in sales, which affected not only Hyundai Motor but many other foreign brands.
It was in February when the company said it was planning to return to Japan and introduce its electric and hydrogen-electric vehicle models. Hyundai Motor envisages that its EVs will make traveling very comfortable for Japanese taxi passengers.
With the vehicle’s spacious interior and electric sliding seats, it will definitely be a smooth ride for everyone. Moreover, the Hyundai IONIQ 5 can travel up to 618 kilometers without a need to recharge and lessen the taxi drivers’ fatigue with its reduced trembling and low noise feature.
"IONIQ 5 is a car with the best commercial quality that offers long driving mileage with a spacious and pleasant interior,” an official of Hyundai Motor, said in a statement. “We hope that the model will become Kyoto's representative EV taxi that contributes to the realization of carbon neutrality in the Japanese prefecture.”
The IONIQ 5 is an award-winning car and the first electric vehicle ever made based on Hyundai Motor's EV platform called the E-GMP. The model has been recognized around the world for its quality, and in fact, it was chosen to receive the “World Car of the Year” award at the recent 2022 World Car Awards. Meanwhile, MK Taxi is a leading taxi operator in Japan, and it is well-known for its superb services in the country.
