Hyundai’s newest large electric SUV, the IONIQ 9, has cleared 15,000 sales in just six months, an impressive milestone at a time when the global EV market is showing signs of slowing down.
According to company filings released August 25, Hyundai has sold 14,391 units of the IONIQ 9 since its domestic debut in February. Of those, 4,789 units were sold in South Korea and 4,745 were exported.
Overseas demand has quickly overtaken local sales, with the U.S. emerging as a key growth driver. Hyundai sold 2,086 units in the U.S. within only three months of its launch there in May.
The IONIQ 9 is produced at Hyundai’s Asan plant in South Korea for global markets, while vehicles bound for American consumers are built locally at the Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America in Georgia.
The facility is fast becoming a centerpiece of Hyundai’s EV strategy, allowing the company to bypass import reliance and qualify for U.S. federal incentives.
Much of the attention around the IONIQ 9 comes from its battery technology. The vehicle is powered by SK On’s 110.3kWh NCM9 battery pack—one of the largest in the industry and nearly double the size of packs found in most mid-size EVs.
Each SUV carries over 500 individual battery cells, about 50 percent more than Hyundai’s IONIQ 5, translating into significantly higher demand per vehicle for SK On’s output. That demand brings added financial upside.
Because the IONIQ 9’s U.S. units are paired with locally supplied batteries, SK On is positioned to benefit from the federal Advanced Manufacturing Production Credit, a subsidy designed to boost American EV battery production.
For Hyundai, the model is already being touted as a success that strengthens its presence in North America while creating a reliable revenue stream for its battery partner.
Hyundai and SK On are expanding that partnership further, with SK On’s Georgia plants already supplying the automaker’s EV lineup and a new joint venture underway to build a 35GWh battery facility in North America.
The collaboration highlights how the companies are aligning to capture both consumer demand and policy incentives in the U.S. market.
Industry officials say the IONIQ 9 is more than just another EV launch—it represents the growing synergy between Korea’s largest automaker and its leading battery supplier.
As sales expand, both Hyundai and SK On are expected to benefit across the supply chain, from battery output to raw materials sourcing, even as the wider EV market faces an uncertain year.
