These days, nearly every car maker has months long waits for many of their new vehicles. It is due of course to lingering supply chain problems that resulted from the COVID-19 pandemic and recent conflicts that have disrupted semiconductor manufacturing and the supply of certain raw materials. Automakers like Kia and Hyundai now have some of the longest wait times in the industry, but how long are we really talking?
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Of course, the answer is that it depends on a number of things. Where do you live? What brands and models are interested in? Where is the brand or model you are interested in made and how popular is it? For example, according to Carscoops, South Korean customers of 26 different Hyundai Motor Group (HMG) models are facing up to 30 month wait times for delivery of their new vehicles. For reference, HMG consists of Hyundai, Genesis and Kia. This is rather striking considering these times are for their home market. A year ago the wait times were only 7 - 11 months, so things seem to be getting worse rather than better, a trend automakers were not predicting last year. It is worth pointing out that the most popular SUV and crossover models seem to average longer wait times than cars.
What about other markets? For the U.S. and Canadian markets, Kia PHEVs and HEVs have “one of the longest wait periods” of any new vehicles they sell and Kia EV’s are at 12-24 month wait times according to Car Help Corner. Non-electrified Kias do have shorter wait times of up to 8 months in the North American market, and again popular SUV and crossover models tend to have longer wait times than cars. What I find particularly interesting though, is that although Kia’s year-to-date sales are down from last year (by 7%, through the end of September), Kia’s sales of its 3 most popular SUVs are all up. These models are the Sportage (up 14%), Telluride (up 2%), and Sorento (up 4%). Might some of the scarcity be caused by the number or types of precious semiconductor chips Kia and the other HMG brands use in their most popular vehicles? That’s hard to say, but YAA pointed out that Hyundai saw a few months’ supply of semiconductor chips for its Ioniq 5 canceled by their manufacturer recently. Perhaps this is why some automakers are taking cues from Tesla and either investigating making their own chips, or redesigning vehicles to use fewer, but more powerful chips. One more thing I think is worth pointing out: though Kia’s year-over-year 2022 U.S. sales are down 7% compared to last year, 2022 is still the 2nd best sales year Kia has had in the U.S. All things considered, that suggests to me that it is more the demand for specific Kia, Hyundai and Genesis models that is driving the wait times (and demand for their electrified SUV models in particular). The high demand is because first, people want SUVs and secondly gas prices are very high and this means the demand for more fuel efficient or plug-in SUVs is insatiable right now. HMG makes more electrified SUVs and crossovers than most other manufacturers too, so that’s why we are seeing such long waits.
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North America and South Korea are not alone when it comes to long waits. Australia is seeing average wait times of 170 days (of course some models are being delivered in less time, and others in more time). The U.K. is seeing 3 - 9 month waits for electric Kia models (as of mid 2022).
Are you waiting for a new Kia, Hyundai or Genesis vehicle? Are you waiting for a different brand? Is the model you are waiting for electrified? If so, what has your wait been like? Please leave your questions or comments below.
Images courtesy of Kia and Hyundai.
Justin Hart has owned and driven electric vehicles for over 14 years, including a first generation Nissan LEAF, second generation Chevy Volt, Tesla Model 3, an electric bicycle and most recently a Kia Sorento PHEV. He is also an avid SUP rider, poet, photographer and wine lover. He enjoys taking long EV and PHEV road trips to beautiful and serene places with the people he loves. Follow Justin on Twitter for daily KIA EV news coverage.
Long story time ...
Wife decided she would like to go electric for her next car
We have been test driving all the latest EV's in the last few weeks (Tesla, I-pace, EV6, Polestar, C40, Mach-E etc etc etc), but wasn't too keen on any of them for one reason or another.
We wanted to test drive the Ionic5 which was the car my wife really wanted as she had her heart set on the Ionic 5 Ultimate with both packs in Cyber Grey with Grey interior but the waiting list was 10 months and there was no demonstrator available locally so sort of gave up on that one.
Last effort, we went to the local Audi dealer to try the Q4 E-Tron, nice car but the waiting list was 18-24 months!!
We went to a nearby coffee shop to have a chat about what we were going to do and eventually decided we would get a "cheaper" EV for now and maybe change it in a couple of years time for what she really wanted as hopefully things would have settled down by then.
Near to the Audi dealer was the Hyundai dealer so I suggested we go and try the Kona EV but again they had no demonstrator BUT............ sitting in the showroom was an Ionic5, Cyber Grey, both packs with a grey interior, we had a look around it thinking it was someones car waiting for delivery but the salesperson said it was a just cancelled order and was available, so, deposit paid and I collect it on Wednesday 👍😁
Waiting time -- 9 days, I can't believe it 😮
Quick - buy a lottery ticket…Mr_G said:
Long story time ...
Wife decided she would like to go electric for her next car
We have been test driving all the latest EV's in the last few weeks (Tesla, I-pace, EV6, Polestar, C40, Mach-E etc etc etc), but wasn't too keen on any of them for one reason or another.
We wanted to test drive the Ionic5 which was the car my wife really wanted as she had her heart set on the Ionic 5 Ultimate with both packs in Cyber Grey with Grey interior but the waiting list was 10 months and there was no demonstrator available locally so sort of gave up on that one.
Last effort, we went to the local Audi dealer to try the Q4 E-Tron, nice car but the waiting list was 18-24 months!!
We went to a nearby coffee shop to have a chat about what we were going to do and eventually decided we would get a "cheaper" EV for now and maybe change it in a couple of years time for what she really wanted as hopefully things would have settled down by then.
Near to the Audi dealer was the Hyundai dealer so I suggested we go and try the Kona EV but again they had no demonstrator BUT............ sitting in the showroom was an Ionic5, Cyber Grey, both packs with a grey interior, we had a look around it thinking it was someones car waiting for delivery but the salesperson said it was a just cancelled order and was available, so, deposit paid and I collect it on Wednesday 👍😁
Waiting time -- 9 days, I can't believe it 😮Click to expand...
Do you believe in fate ? It was obviously meant to be - enjoy you will absolutely love it - have fun and enjoy all the stares from passers by - had mine 3 months and it's still amazing seeing people's reaction when they see the car for the first timeMr_G said:
Long story time ...
Wife decided she would like to go electric for her next car
We have been test driving all the latest EV's in the last few weeks (Tesla, I-pace, EV6, Polestar, C40, Mach-E etc etc etc), but wasn't too keen on any of them for one reason or another.
We wanted to test drive the Ionic5 which was the car my wife really wanted as she had her heart set on the Ionic 5 Ultimate with both packs in Cyber Grey with Grey interior but the waiting list was 10 months and there was no demonstrator available locally so sort of gave up on that one.
Last effort, we went to the local Audi dealer to try the Q4 E-Tron, nice car but the waiting list was 18-24 months!!
We went to a nearby coffee shop to have a chat about what we were going to do and eventually decided we would get a "cheaper" EV for now and maybe change it in a couple of years time for what she really wanted as hopefully things would have settled down by then.
Near to the Audi dealer was the Hyundai dealer so I suggested we go and try the Kona EV but again they had no demonstrator BUT............ sitting in the showroom was an Ionic5, Cyber Grey, both packs with a grey interior, we had a look around it thinking it was someones car waiting for delivery but the salesperson said it was a just cancelled order and was available, so, deposit paid and I collect it on Wednesday 👍😁
Waiting time -- 9 days, I can't believe it 😮Click to expand...
Congratulations, your wife is going to love it. My Ioniq 5 was a unexpected cancellation as well. I didn't even hesitate a second when it was offered to me.Mr_G said:
Long story time ...
Wife decided she would like to go electric for her next car
We have been test driving all the latest EV's in the last few weeks (Tesla, I-pace, EV6, Polestar, C40, Mach-E etc etc etc), but wasn't too keen on any of them for one reason or another.
We wanted to test drive the Ionic5 which was the car my wife really wanted as she had her heart set on the Ionic 5 Ultimate with both packs in Cyber Grey with Grey interior but the waiting list was 10 months and there was no demonstrator available locally so sort of gave up on that one.
Last effort, we went to the local Audi dealer to try the Q4 E-Tron, nice car but the waiting list was 18-24 months!!
We went to a nearby coffee shop to have a chat about what we were going to do and eventually decided we would get a "cheaper" EV for now and maybe change it in a couple of years time for what she really wanted as hopefully things would have settled down by then.
Near to the Audi dealer was the Hyundai dealer so I suggested we go and try the Kona EV but again they had no demonstrator BUT............ sitting in the showroom was an Ionic5, Cyber Grey, both packs with a grey interior, we had a look around it thinking it was someones car waiting for delivery but the salesperson said it was a just cancelled order and was available, so, deposit paid and I collect it on Wednesday 👍😁
Waiting time -- 9 days, I can't believe it 😮Click to expand...
congrats! do dealers markup the msrp in UK?Mr_G said:
Long story time ...
Wife decided she would like to go electric for her next car
We have been test driving all the latest EV's in the last few weeks (Tesla, I-pace, EV6, Polestar, C40, Mach-E etc etc etc), but wasn't too keen on any of them for one reason or another.
We wanted to test drive the Ionic5 which was the car my wife really wanted as she had her heart set on the Ionic 5 Ultimate with both packs in Cyber Grey with Grey interior but the waiting list was 10 months and there was no demonstrator available locally so sort of gave up on that one.
Last effort, we went to the local Audi dealer to try the Q4 E-Tron, nice car but the waiting list was 18-24 months!!
We went to a nearby coffee shop to have a chat about what we were going to do and eventually decided we would get a "cheaper" EV for now and maybe change it in a couple of years time for what she really wanted as hopefully things would have settled down by then.
Near to the Audi dealer was the Hyundai dealer so I suggested we go and try the Kona EV but again they had no demonstrator BUT............ sitting in the showroom was an Ionic5, Cyber Grey, both packs with a grey interior, we had a look around it thinking it was someones car waiting for delivery but the salesperson said it was a just cancelled order and was available, so, deposit paid and I collect it on Wednesday 👍😁
Waiting time -- 9 days, I can't believe it 😮Click to expand...
we have had exactly the same experience. Went in for a test drive and they had a gravity gold both packs car as a cancelled order here in Buckinghamshire. Picked the car up on Saturday and absolutely love it. Previous car was an ID4 and this is so much more refined.Mr_G said:
Long story time ...
Wife decided she would like to go electric for her next car
We have been test driving all the latest EV's in the last few weeks (Tesla, I-pace, EV6, Polestar, C40, Mach-E etc etc etc), but wasn't too keen on any of them for one reason or another.
We wanted to test drive the Ionic5 which was the car my wife really wanted as she had her heart set on the Ionic 5 Ultimate with both packs in Cyber Grey with Grey interior but the waiting list was 10 months and there was no demonstrator available locally so sort of gave up on that one.
Last effort, we went to the local Audi dealer to try the Q4 E-Tron, nice car but the waiting list was 18-24 months!!
We went to a nearby coffee shop to have a chat about what we were going to do and eventually decided we would get a "cheaper" EV for now and maybe change it in a couple of years time for what she really wanted as hopefully things would have settled down by then.
Near to the Audi dealer was the Hyundai dealer so I suggested we go and try the Kona EV but again they had no demonstrator BUT............ sitting in the showroom was an Ionic5, Cyber Grey, both packs with a grey interior, we had a look around it thinking it was someones car waiting for delivery but the salesperson said it was a just cancelled order and was available, so, deposit paid and I collect it on Wednesday 👍😁
Waiting time -- 9 days, I can't believe it 😮Click to expand...
What is the current wait time for a Hyundai Ioniq 5?
Model | Avg. wait time | Category |
Ioniq 5 | 18-24 months | BEV |
Kona | 18-24 months | BEV |
Tucson | 18-24 months | PHEV |
Santa Fe | 18-24 months | PHEV |