Korean Made 2019 Hyundai Kona starts at $37,495

Kona Electric will be produced in Ulsan, Korea and will be available in the beginning of 2019.

Hyundai announced a starting price of, gulp, $36,450 for its 2019 Kona electric crossover. The Kona Electric price is $36,450, for an effective net price of $28,950 ($29,995 including delivery) with the electric vehicle tax credit of $7,500. Customers may receive the available federal tax credit of up to $7,500, dependent on individual tax circumstances, yielding a sub-$30,000 net price. Pricing for other Kona Electric trims will be announced shortly.

Kona Electric rides on an all-new CUV platform. It is Hyundai’s first compact electric crossover for the U.S. market, appealing to consumers with – marketing babble alert – “active, eco-focused lifestyles of all kinds.”

Kona Electric models will be produced in Ulsan, Korea and will be available in the beginning of 2019, with initial sales in California and subsequently in the ZEV-focused states in the western and northeastern regions of the U.S. market.

“Our new Kona Electric crossover is an exceptionally affordable, stylish and efficient compact electric CUV, tailored to the needs of customers who pursue eco-focused active lifestyles requiring generous range,” claimed Mike O’Brien, vice president of Product, Corporate and Digital Planning, Hyundai Motor America. “We’re confident it will set new standards for the electric-propelled compact CUV segment, with outstanding value, range flexibility, appealing design, cutting-edge connectivity and class-leading available safety features.”

Here’s the concept Kona from 2017.

Hyundai Motor America

Hyundai’s technology-rich product lineup of cars, SUVs and alternative-powered electric and fuel cell vehicles is backed by Hyundai Assurance. Hyundai vehicles are sold and serviced through more than 830 dealerships nationwide, with the majority sold in the U.S. built at U.S. manufacturing facilities, including Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama. Hyundai Motor America is headquartered in Fountain Valley, California, and is a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Company of Korea.