The Future of Hyundai EVs and Where the Brand is Headed Next

by TTAC Staff

Published: April 24th, 2026

On this week's TTAC podcast, Tim is at the new Hyundai Metaplant in Savannah, Georgia.

Tim chats with with Dan Hwang, the senior manager of advanced vehicle technology at Hyundai, as well as with Miles Johnson from the Hyundai PR team. The trio talk about the future of Hyundai's EV efforts, how AI is impacting the industry and what the heck a metaplant is anyway.

Plus, Matthew Guy drops in to discuss some critically important maintenance topics, specifically focusing on brake repair.

You can find us wherever you get your podcasts or by clicking here. If you like what you hear, please leave a review!

Thanks Matthew Guy for his time, and thanks Matt Posky for editing. Most of all, we thank you for listening!

We’ll see you next time!

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6 of 16 comments

Bd2 on Apr 27, 2026

Seems more and more that they are eyeing these models for export in order to better compete with Chinese exports.

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- Luke42 on Apr 28, 2026
  
  Having to compete with Chinese EVs a worldwide reality at this point, and companies have the choice of compete or retreat.
  I’m old enough to remember when it was the Japanese we had to compete with — and so many people were angry and scared about that (though they’d dress the fear up in tough language).
  
  This too shall pass, and a new equilibrium will be reached. The only question of whether our favorite companies will be part of that equilibrium— or not.
  
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- Hummer on Apr 29, 2026
  
  No one was angry or scared at the Japanese, we knew they built great products. My grandfather was in the Pacific theatre in WWII and went on to be one of the first Kubota dealers on the east coast alongside his IH product. Japanese quality was well known and respected, Chinese do not hold those values. Chinese will always find shortcuts and without western supervision in their Chinese facilities the products suffer.
  Chinese cars have horrid quality, use slave labor for components, have terrible parts availability even in countries they're established in, are typically cost cut in ways consumers don't even think to check (trucks have IRS in many cases), use tiny undersized engines, and offer little value over established brands.
  
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- Bd2 on Apr 30, 2026
  
  Chinese have tik tok and have bought many influencers to push their wares. And it's working. Uproar for the SU7 Ultra is deafening in some large circles.
  
  1
- Hummer on Apr 30, 2026
  
  One can look no further than Australia to see how horrid the reviews have been on chinese vehicles. The chinese market has imploded on itself and they are desperate to get into the US market.
  You're 100% correct, I'm not sure why I'm continuously surprised that people can fall for the low grade propaganda push that has occurred over the past couple months pushing for chinese cars. They honestly think they're going to buy a $15k midsize crossover than can forward rivers, crab walk, have 32-way adjustable massaging seats and will outlast a Toyota.
  
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Txclyde1 on May 01, 2026

The chinese CCP vehicles are junk .EVs are not what America wants and it will be a long time before they do. The last administration tried to force them down our throats .This costs the manufactures billions of dollars and the vehicles and not in any demand as new and almost worthless as used and are totally worthless as third owner cars .

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