After 11 years, Hyundai Veloster saying goodbye?

Is Hyundai's hot hatch slowly exiting the market?

We may be saying goodbye to the Hyundai Veloster soon.

According to a report by Korean publication Hangkung, the automaker has no plans to introduce new variants in the near future. Furthermore,  the report stated that the Korean car company might shift focus to the development of the Kona line. With that, Hyundai looks to be really streamlining its lineup after news came out recently that the original Ioniq hatchback will end production this July 2022.

Built exclusively by Hyundai’s Ulsan 1 plant for the last eleven years, the Veloster will be taking a back seat to the Kona. The Kona is also being assembled there and with the exit of the Veloster, the plant may just focus on the Kona and its next-generation model. The report has also cited that customers would prefer the Elantra N over the Veloster N. Performance of both cars are almost identical but the market seems to prefer the Elantra more.   

The publication added that the Veloster N sold only 1,388 units in Korea in 2020. That then plummeted to 510 units sold in the same year due to the release of the Elantra N. This year, only 99 examples were sold in Korea from January to April. Even in the overseas market, Hyundai was able to shift 2,087 units of the Elantra N as compared to the 1,214 units of the Veloster N. 

Hyundai seems to be listening to the market. Customers have voiced their preference for the ride quality of the sedan and the practicality of SUVs. The Elantra has reported sales of 71,036 units and remains the company’s best-selling vehicle alongside the Kona. 

With the recent Stargazer teaser for the Indonesian market, a new Kona on the horizon, and most of the models going electric, Hyundai as a company is moving forward. They aim to meet the needs and demands of their market. Unfortunately, the hot hatch may be on the way out as far as Hyundai is concerned. Could this become a trend with other automakers?