Hyundai Motor has ended production of its i10 city car for the UK and European markets after an 18-year run, marking the phase-out of one of its best-selling internal combustion engine models as the company pivots further toward electric vehicles.
The Hyundai Motor i10, first launched in Europe in 2008, sold more than 3.3 million units globally, including over 370,000 in the UK. Known for its affordability and compact design, the model was particularly popular in Europe, though sales have weakened in recent years as buyers shifted to newer and more efficient alternatives. UK dealers still have inventory available, but Hyundai is no longer taking factory orders, according to industry publication Auto Express.
Hyundai said the decision was linked to reallocating production capacity at its Turkish manufacturing plant to support upcoming electric vehicle models. While the i10 does not have a direct successor, the automaker plans to introduce a new entry-level EV, the Ioniq 3, which is scheduled to debut in April 2026 with sales starting shortly after, according to Hyundai’s German website.
The Ioniq 3, previewed by the Concept Three at the Munich Motor Show last September, adopts what Hyundai describes as “a new typology that reimagines the compact EV silhouette,” featuring an “Aero Hatch” design. The model will be larger than the i10 and similar in size to vehicles such as the Kia EV3 and Volkswagen ID.3, positioning it higher in the small-car segment.
Hyundai has not disclosed pricing but is expected to place the Ioniq 3 below the Kona Electric, which starts at about £35,000 in the UK. In the meantime, Hyundai is steering cost-conscious buyers toward the Hyundai Inster, currently the brand’s most affordable electric model in the UK, priced from £23,495.
