Hyundai has released a teaser video for an upcoming electric SUV set to debut in China, sparking speculation that the new model could be launched as the Ioniq 4. The move signals Hyundai’s intensified efforts to regain ground in the world’s largest electric vehicle market, where domestic players like BYD continue to dominate.
The new electric SUV, currently referred to internally as “OE,” was first glimpsed last month through official spy photos shared by Beijing Hyundai. Despite the camouflage, the model appears to feature a front light bar, slim LED headlights, and a closed-off grille—design cues that suggest a connection to Hyundai’s Ioniq lineup.
See also: Hyundai Unveils Facelifted Ioniq 6 and Teases High-Performance Ioniq 6 N
In a new teaser video released this week, the vehicle is shown maneuvering across snow-covered terrain, highlighting features such as real-time torque control, high-speed cornering, and body control during slalom-like movements. “A wave of high-end operations,” the company captions in the video, appears to signal the SUV’s performance-oriented credentials.
The Korean Car Blog reported that the SUV’s internal code “OE” aligns with Hyundai’s Ioniq naming convention, in which EV models carry an “E” in their development code, adding weight to speculation that the upcoming model could be introduced as the Ioniq 4.
See also: Hyundai Ioniq 5 Owner Logs 413,000 Miles, Battery Still Holds Strong
“Beijing Hyundai will release more information on April 16, with the electric SUV set to ‘challenge the limit of driving performance,’” the company said in the teaser announcement.
Hyundai opened its first overseas R&D center in China last year to develop EVs tailored to local preferences. The forthcoming SUV will be the first in a series of four new energy vehicles planned for release in China, including electric and extended-range electric models.
See also: Hyundai Ioniq 9 Set to Shake Up SUV Market with ‘Game-Changing’ Range and Features
