Hyundai Sonata, Kia Stinger and K5 Reportedly on Chopping Block

Lyle Ellerbee

Three midsize Korean sedans may perhaps soon be part of the vehicle industry’s ongoing exodus from the passenger automobile side of the industry, in accordance to many studies.

2022 Hyundai Sonata N Line driving
Hyundai seems set to adhere to the trend of chopping midsize sedans, which include the Sonata as nicely as the Kia Stinger and K5.

As to start with claimed by South Korea’s Chosun Ilbo, the Hyundai Motor Team is scheduling to fall the Hyundai Sonata, as well as the Stinger and K5 versions sold by the sibling Kia brand — although officers from the two manufacturers pressured the a few models stay crucial elements of their products offerings.

The stories, if proved exact, would mark the major pullback by the Korean carmaker from the passenger auto section. But it would be in line with what is going on a lot more broadly within the auto marketplace. Automakers have culled a wide variety of the moment-well-known sedans, coupes, hatchbacks and sports cars and trucks in recent a long time, as motorists by the millions change to SUVs, CUVs, pickups and other mild vehicles.

Acquainted sedans fade away

Among the the products that have vanished in the course of the very last numerous many years: the Ford Fusion, Chevrolet Impala and Cadillac CT6. Toyota will halt production of the Avalon at the end of the 2022 design year.

And, according to the Chosun Ilbo and other reports, at minimum three Hyundai Motor Team styles will be a part of the listing, which includes the Sonata, Stinger and K5.

2022 Kia Stinger GT driving red
The Kia Stinger could be reduce from Kia’s line-up if mum or dad Hyundai goes by way of with ideas to reduce midsize sedans.

“Under Govt Chairman Euisun Chung, there appears to be a willingness to do away with sentimentally iconic nameplates as the automaker forges in advance towards the potential,” Ed Kim, president and chief analyst at AutoPacific, instructed Automotive News.

Sonata profits slump

The Sonata was when one particular of the most vital products for Hyundai, especially in the U.S., but sales have dropped from 213,303 in 2015 to just 76,997 last year. For the very first 4 months of 2022, Americans have purchased just 9,806 Sonatas — significantly less than were offered in April of 2021.

And that is regardless of heading by way of a complete makeover for the 2020 model year, as perfectly as the addition of a sportier N-Line version final yr.

Kia is obtaining a bit extra luck in the industry with the K5, the redesigned and renamed model of the old Kia Optima. The most up-to-date version of the sedan generated 92,326 profits in the U.S. last yr. But demand from customers tumbled 42% in April, and is down 22% for the initially four months of this year. Overall, Kia revenue are down 8% for the yr to date.

2021 Kia K5 EX front
Kia’s manufactured a significant transform in its midsize sedan line-up for 2021, phasing out the Optima for the new K5.

As for Stinger, the automaker marketed 4,002 through the end of April — a 10% yr-more than-calendar year boost — but April revenue ended up down 25%.

The Chosun Ilbo did not say when every single of the three models specially will be dropped, and some resources stated they could continue to be in generation for various years.

Hyundai, Kia dismiss reviews

But the two models dismissed reports that the 3 products are set to conclude their run.

“Sonata stays and will continue on to be an vital portion of Hyundai’s merchandise line-up,” the automaker said in a statement supplied to TheDetroitBureau.com.

As for Kia, spokesman James Bell stated “Stinger remains an important element of Kia’s award-successful line-up of autos and a impressive piece of our general manufacturer transformation.”

2020 Ford Fusion
Ford slash the Fusion midsize sedan from its line-up immediately after the 2020 design 12 months.

A Kia insider, in the meantime, questioned why the K5 was on the checklist and recommended that might simply be since it shares the exact underpinnings as the Hyundai Sonata.

Midsize sedan market continues shrinking

All a few of the versions bundled in the Korean information report fall into the midsize group. It has been challenging strike by the change to utility cars which now compromise the greater part of American gross sales. Only 926,112 midsize sedans had been bought in the U.S. last 12 months, a 14% decline from the pandemic-weakened 2020. And demand dropped one more 19% through the first quarter of this calendar year.

The Hyundai brand name has presently trimmed back its passenger car or truck portfolio, albeit somewhat. It just lately dropped all but the prime general performance variations of the Veloster hatchback.

With SUVs and CUVs continuing to attain ground, field analysts tension that even far more passenger auto models could be on the chopping block in the course of the future a number of many years.

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