Hyundai says N cars caused its NVES fine, defiantly vows to keep selling them alongside EVs

Hyundai racked up the fourth-largest inaugural New Vehicle Effectivity Well-liked (NVES) penalty within the vehicle CO2 law’s first 12 months of operation, and the firm has revealed how and why it took dwelling.

A spokesperson for Hyundai Motor Firm Australia (HMCA) told Chasing Autos that the “enormous bulk” of the penalty was as soon as chalked up by the CO2 contribution of petrol-powered, excessive-efficiency Hyundai N cars.

NVES penalties are issued when the frequent CO2 emissions of all vehicles supplied by a vehicle manufacturer in a calendar 12 months exceed a legislated govt limit.

In 2025, the headline NVES limit was as soon as 141g/km for cars and SUVs. There are increased limits for utes and heavy-duty 4WDs, but Hyundai doesn’t promote any vehicles in that class in Australia.

Petrol-powered N cars cop the blame; Hyundai promises to preserve them

Nearly about all of Hyundai’s N items emit significantly extra than the 2025 limit.

The ‘dirtiest’ of the lot is the distinctive, with the i30 N hatchback officially rated for 197g/km while the a little bit of of slipperier i30 Sedan N sliding in at 194g/km. The pint-sized i20 N emits 157g/km.

The finest exception is the absolutely electrical Ioniq 5 N which, cherish any BEVs, emits 0g/km for NVES functions.

Restful, HMCA chief working officer Gavin Donaldson told Chasing Autos that the petrol-powered N cars aren’t going wherever.

“N isn’t most likely for Hyundai, and we possess a mountainous N neighborhood, as we’ve considered from our N festivals and notice events. N owners are our finest imprint ambassadors.

“We’re going to have the option to all the time promote Ns in Australia,” acknowledged Donaldson.

Restful, plans are afoot at HMCA to raise the percentage of sales of battery electrical vehicles (BEVs) to offset the emissions of the N cars extra precisely, within the hopes of avoiding future NVES penalties.

“We fair appropriate possess to assign better with EV sales to abet derive the penalty we rating for ICE-powered N efficiency cars,” Donaldson acknowledged.

Other non-N Hyundai items are no longer pulling their weight

Left unsaid by HMCA sources was as soon as that there are diversified vehicles within the native Hyundai lineup which are no longer pulling their weight on the NVES front.

Entry-level powertrains old by Hyundai for the smartly-liked Kona tiny SUV and Tucson midsize SUV emit CO2 in diagram over the NVES limits, at 184g/km and 149g/km apiece.

Then there’s the 2.5-litre turbo petrol version of the reigning Chasing Autos Vehicle of the 12 months, the Hyundai Santa Fe, which is Hyundai’s thirstiest SUV — with CO2 emissions of 212g/km.

Those numbers breached the 2025 limits, and so they are deep into the red for 2026, with NVES headline CO2 limits tightening significantly for cars and SUVs to 117g/km.

Though-provoking investors into hybrids is a handy solution for 2026

HMCA will soon possess to make a selection what to assign about excessive-CO2, non-N powertrains.

The imprint already sells hybrid choices for several of its items, with the in part electrified powertrains making a mighty distinction: the Kona Hybrid and Tucson Hybrid emit 121g/km and 88g/km respectively.

Likewise, the hybrid version of our COTY winner slashes CO2 emissions to 128g/km — a 40 p.c enchancment.

Demand to possess a look at HMCA pull levers to shift seek info from of further to the hybrids.

Elexio leads fee to assign sales of absolutely electrical Hyundais

Operations boss Donaldson’s acknowledgement of the possess to promote extra EVs kicked off earlier this week.

Priced from $59,990 driveaway, Hyundai’s new Chinese-built Elexio midsize SUV is a BEV the emblem hopes will pinch some non-public and snappy industry away from the Kia EV5 and Tesla Model Y.

Hyundai wants to build a factual stab at making the Elexio a success as sales of the emblem’s innovative Ioniq 5 BEV remain enviornment of interest: fair appropriate 626 had been delivered final 12 months.