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Tesla’s rise in South Korea pushes Hyundai to focus on EVs instead of hydrogen

(Credit: Tesla, Hyundai)

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5 years ago

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In a 2014 book, Hyundai’s then R&D Chief Lee Hyun-soon, who also happens to be the one who developed South Korea’s first gasoline engines, argued that electric vehicles were “not realistic,” and part of this is due to their high battery costs. According to Lee, hydrogen based cars are a better zero emissions alternative, and the technology offered a “bright future.”

Hyundai, together with experienced carmakers such as Toyota and upstart companies like Nikola, bet big on the adoption and spread of hydrogen vehicles. The company launched the Tucson Fuel Cell in 2013 and the NEXO in 2018, both of which garnered a fair amount of optimism. However, this optimism did not translate to sales, and the hydrogen boom that was to come did not come at all. 

Last year, 7,707 hydrogen fuel cell cars were sold globally. In comparison, there were 1.68 million electric vehicles that were sold in 2019, more than 86,000 of which came from Hyundai itself, as per figures from LMC Automotive. Tesla, the leader in EVs today, sold a whopping 367,500 vehicles last year, and that’s with a lineup comprised solely of premium cars. 

Tesla’s expansion has been felt in South Korea. Since the launch of the Model 3, Tesla has spread its reach into the country. In June alone, Tesla had its best month in South Korea, beating Hyundai’s Kona EV and other premium rivals from BMW and Audi. Last month, South Korea’s rental service firm SK Rent-a-Car even announced that it would be adding the Tesla Model 3 to its fleet, simply because new Tesla products were the “most favored” electric cars among its customers. 

In a statement to Reuters, an industry insider stated that Tesla’s rise has caught Hyundai by surprise. “Hyundai did not expect Tesla to dominate the EV market so quickly,” the source said. But with the demand for electric cars being established and highlighted in the country by Tesla’s rise, Hyundai is mobilizing to catch up. An internal union newsletter retrieved by the news outlet, for example, revealed that Hyundai intends to introduce two production lines dedicated to EVs in the near future. The first of these would be introduced as early as next year. 

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Euisun Chung, the leader of the Hyundai Motor Group conglomerate, has reportedly held a series of meetings with his counterparts at Samsung, LG, and SK Group, companies that manufacture batteries and electronic parts. In a statement to Reuters, Hyundai noted that it was collaborating with South Korean battery suppliers to “scale up” its EV production capabilities to compete in the electric car segment better. 

Amidst these strategies, Hyundai has started what appears to be a definitive step away from hydrogen cars to electric vehicles. The company still promotes its hydrogen cars with popular K-pop band BTS, but it only intends to produce two hydrogen vehicles by 2025. In comparison, the company intends to have 23 battery powered cars by then. This was highlighted in a statement last month by Chung, who stated that the company wants to sell 1 million EVs per year, grabbing a global market share of 10%, by 2025. 

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Simon is an experienced automotive reporter with a passion for electric cars and clean energy. Fascinated by the world envisioned by Elon Musk, he hopes to make it to Mars (at least as a tourist) someday. For stories or tips--or even to just say a simple hello--send a message to his email, simon@teslarati.com or his handle on X, @ResidentSponge.

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Tesla Supercharger Diner food menu gets a sneak peek as construction closes out

What are you ordering at the Tesla Diner?

Published

10 hours ago

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July 18, 2025

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Credit: BradGoldbergMD | X

The Tesla Supercharger Diner in Los Angeles is nearing completion as construction appears to be winding down significantly. However, the more minor details, such as what the company will serve at its 50s-style diner for food, are starting to be revealed.

Tesla’s Supercharger Diner is set to open soon, seven years after CEO Elon Musk first drafted the idea in a post on X in 2018. Musk has largely come through on most of what he envisioned for the project: the diner, the massive movie screens, and the intended vibe are all present, thanks to the aerial and ground footage shared on social media.

We already know the Diner will be open 24/7, based on decals placed on the front door of the restaurant that were shared earlier this week. We assume that Tesla Optimus will come into play for these long and uninterrupted hours.

The Tesla Diner is basically finished—here’s what it looks like

As far as the food, Tesla does have an email also printed on the front door of the Diner, but we did not receive any response back (yet) about what cuisine it will be offering. We figured it would be nothing fancy and it would be typical diner staples: burgers, fries, wings, milkshakes, etc.

According to pictures taken by @Tesla_lighting_, which were shared by Not a Tesla App, the food will be just that: quick and affordable meals that diners do well. It’s nothing crazy, just typical staples you’d find at any diner, just with a Tesla twist:

As the food menu is finalized, we will be sure to share any details Tesla provides, including a full list of what will be served and its prices.

Additionally, the entire property appears to be nearing its final construction stages, and it seems it may even be nearing completion. The movie screens are already up and showing videos of things like SpaceX launches.

There are many cars already using the Superchargers at the restaurant, and employees inside the facility look to be putting the finishing touches on the interior.

It’s almost reminiscent of a Tesla version of a Buc-ee’s, a southern staple convenience store that offers much more than a traditional gas station. Of course, Tesla’s version is futuristic and more catered to the company’s image, but the idea is the same.

It’s a one-stop shop for anything you’d need to recharge as a Tesla owner. Los Angeles building permits have not yet revealed the date for the restaurant’s initial operation, but Tesla may have its eye on a target date that will likely be announced during next week’s Earnings Call.

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News

Tesla’s longer Model Y did not scale back requests for this vehicle type from fans

Tesla fans are happy with the new Model Y, but they’re still vocal about the need for something else.

Published

1 day ago

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July 17, 2025

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Credit: AlwinArt/Twitter

Tesla launched a slightly longer version of the Model Y all-electric crossover in China, and with it being extremely likely that the vehicle will make its way to other markets, including the United States, fans are still looking for something more.

The new Model Y L in China boasts a slightly larger wheelbase than its original version, giving slightly more interior room with a sixth seat, thanks to a third row.

Tesla exec hints at useful and potentially killer Model Y L feature

Tesla has said throughout the past year that it would focus on developing its affordable, compact models, which were set to begin production in the first half of the year. The company has not indicated whether it met that timeline or not, but many are hoping to see unveilings of those designs potentially during the Q3 earnings call.

However, the modifications to the Model Y, which have not yet been officially announced for any markets outside of China, still don’t seem to be what owners and fans are looking forward to. Instead, they are hoping for something larger.

A few months ago, I reported on the overall consensus within the Tesla community that the company needs a full-size SUV, minivan, or even a cargo van that would be ideal for camping or business use.

Tesla is missing one type of vehicle in its lineup and fans want it fast

That mentality still seems very present amongst fans and owners, who state that a full-size SUV with enough seating for a larger family, more capability in terms of cargo space for camping or business operation, and something to compete with gas cars like the Chevrolet Tahoe, Ford Expedition, or electric ones like the Volkswagen ID.BUZZ.

We asked the question on X, and Tesla fans were nearly unanimously in support of a larger SUV or minivan-type vehicle for the company’s lineup:

Here’s what some of the respondents said:

Tesla is certainly aware that many of its owners would like the company to develop something larger that competes with the large SUVs on the market.

However, it has not stated that anything like that is in the current plans for future vehicles, as it has made a concerted effort to develop Robotaxi alongside the affordable, compact models that it claims are in development.

It has already unveiled the Robovan, a people-mover that can seat up to 20 passengers in a lounge-like interior.

The Robovan will be completely driverless, so it’s unlikely we will see it before the release of a fully autonomous Full Self-Driving suite from Tesla.

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Energy

Tesla launches first Virtual Power Plant in UK – get paid to use solar

Tesla has launched its first-ever Virtual Power Plant program in the United Kingdom.

Published

1 day ago

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July 17, 2025

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Credit: Tesla Energy | X

Tesla has launched its first-ever Virtual Power Plant program in the United Kingdom. This feature enables users of solar panels and energy storage systems to sell their excess energy back to the grid.

Tesla is utilizing Octopus Energy, a British renewable energy company that operates in multiple markets, including the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Australia, Japan, New Zealand, and the United States, as the provider for the VPP launch in the region.

The company states that those who enroll in the program can earn up to £300 per month.

Tesla has operated several VPP programs worldwide, most notably in California, Texas, Connecticut, and the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico. This is not the first time Tesla has operated a VPP outside the United States, as there are programs in Australia, Japan, and New Zealand.

This is its first in the UK:

Tesla is not the only company that is working with Octopus Energy in the UK for the VPP, as it joins SolarEdge, GivEnergy, and Enphase as other companies that utilize the Octopus platform for their project operations.

It has been six years since Tesla launched its first VPP, as it started its first in Australia back in 2019. In 2024, Tesla paid out over $10 million to those participating in the program.

Tesla VPP program in California hits new capacity milestone

Participating in the VPP program that Tesla offers not only provides enrolled individuals with the opportunity to earn money, but it also contributes to grid stabilization by supporting local energy grids.

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