Hyundai’s Chinese EV SUV Spotted Testing in Sydney

A heavily camouflaged electric SUV was seen charging in Sydney this week and it's not one you’ll recognise from Hyundai’s current local lineup.

It turns out this mystery vehicle is the 2025 Hyundai Elexio, an electric SUV designed in China, for China. But right now, it’s clocking kilometres on Australian roads, likely undergoing hot weather testing as part of Hyundai Motor Group’s global validation program.

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Although details on the Elexio remain scarce, registration records and teasers confirm that it's a dedicated EV developed under Beijing Hyundai, the joint venture between Hyundai Motor Company and China’s state-owned BAIC Motor. It marks Hyundai’s first fully electric model created specifically for the Chinese market.

And while it’s not part of the Ioniq family, Hyundai trademarked the Elexio name in Australia earlier this year, suggesting it could launch in the future, for now however, it’s not on the official roadmap.

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China-bound or not, Australia remains the Group’s go-to location for hot-weather durability trials. The recent Sydney sighting likely wraps up that testing phase, but it’s also possible Hyundai Australia’s local chassis tuning team had a hand in refining the Elexio’s dynamics, as it often does for global models.

From what’s known so far, the Elexio will offer all-wheel drive via a dual-motor powertrain, with single-motor variants expected down the line. It rides on a dedicated EV platform, but Hyundai has yet to reveal if it’s related to the e-GMP architecture, Kia’s EV5-derived N3 eK platform, or something entirely new from BAIC.

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Earlier development work focused on extreme cold testing in China’s far north, and with the southern hemisphere delivering the heat, Australia’s roads now offer the final proving grounds.

The official global debut is set for May 7, when we’ll get a clearer picture of the Elexio’s specs, platform, and target markets.