The Ioniq universe expands: Hyundai conquers China with new concepts "Earth" and "Venus"

BEIJING – In a strategic move aimed at redefining its presence in the world’s largest auto market, Hyundai has lifted the curtain on two spectacular concepts: Venus and Earth. Beyond the avant-garde design, the event held at Hyundai Motorstudio Beijing marks a historic first: the transformation of the Ioniq name into a standalone brand, dedicated exclusively to the Chinese market.

This new era, defined under the concept of “Open Your Universe”, abandons the global numerical naming system (Ioniq 5, 6, 9) in favor of a nomenclature inspired by planets. The message is clear: each vehicle “orbits” around the needs of the local customer.

Ioniq Venus: Elegance sculpted in radiant gold

The Venus concept is an electric sedan that looks like it's straight out of a science fiction movie, ditching the "pixel" aesthetic for a fluid, single-curve silhouette.

• Exterior: Painted in “Radiant Gold”, Venus impresses with forged carbon fiber inserts with gold particles. The panoramic roof is a lightweight structure that integrates the windshield and a transparent spoiler, offering spectacular visibility.
• Interior: The cabin is driver-centric, with an octagonal steering wheel and a huge digital screen that takes up almost the entire dashboard. The contrast between purple suede and gold chrome-plated seat backs emphasizes the premium positioning of the new brand.
• Technology: The Lumi virtual assistant ensures the emotional connection between man and machine, facilitating the control of functions without physical buttons.

Ioniq Earth: The rugged SUV that gives you an "air hug"

If Venus represents elegance, Earth is Hyundai's answer to modern Chinese families seeking adventure and robustness.

• Exterior design: The SUV, painted in the “Aurora Shield” color, adopts a “cab-forward” style to maximize interior space. Details such as exposed tow hooks, massive skid plates and cameras in place of side mirrors give it a highly technical look.
• Interior innovation: The star of the cabin is the “Air-hug” seat system. These are composed of soft air modules that mold perfectly to the passengers’ bodies.
• Atmosphere: Ambient lighting is designed to mimic tree shadows, and “shy-tech” details and stylized maps of Beijing integrated into the design create an urban relaxation space. The virtual assistant for this model is called Aero.

A major change in strategy: Autonomy and EREV

Perhaps the most important technical news is the adaptation of the propulsion systems to the specific requirements of the Chinese market. Hyundai has confirmed that the upcoming Ioniq range in China will not only be purely electric (BEV), but will also include extended range electric vehicles (EREV). These use a small internal combustion engine as a generator, eliminating the “range anxiety” over long distances.

Moreover, the Koreans are collaborating with local technology giants to implement advanced autonomous driving systems, adapted to the complex traffic in Asian metropolises.

“We are not just launching products, but an entire mobility ecosystem,” Hyundai officials said. “Ioniq in China will mean world-class safety combined with the digital experience that Chinese consumers demand.”

The two concepts will be able to be admired by the general public starting April 24, at the Auto China 2026 show in Beijing, where additional details are expected about the launch date of the first "planetary" series models.