Hyundai Motor America is offering consumers interested in driving an electric vehicle an innovative subscription service dubbed Evolve+.
The plan allows consumers for one monthly payment to get a vehicle with insurance, roadside assistance and maintenance for a three- to five-month period.
Carmakers such as Volvo, Porsche, Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Audi previously introduced subscription services aimed customers looking to use a luxury car or cars for a short period without being tied down by a lease or purchase agreement.
Hyundai’s program is meant to attract the “EV-curious” and first-time battery-electric customers. The automaker is starting with the Ioniq 5 and Kona EV mode.
Easy cancellation
The Evolve+ subscriber can cancel at any time during each subscription period and there is no long-term commitment required. Other subscription services require customers to lock into a 3- to 5-month minimum term.
“With no paperwork, no commitment and no long-term loan, Evolve+ is an optimal solution for the ‘EV-curious’ car shopper,” said Olabisi Boyle, vice president, product planning and mobility strategy, Hyundai Motor North America.
“We’ve prioritized simplicity and flexibility with the subscription process, allowing customers to place orders and renew on their own terms on their own time all via smartphone. We are hoping that by offering a subscription-based option, we will increase EV adoption and awareness as customers transition into an EV future,” Boyle added as Hyundai rolled out the program during the Chicago Auto Show.
The new service provides flexibility and affordability to the consumer who wants to drive Hyundai’s newest electric vehicles without committing to a purchase or longer-term lease.
Evolve+ is a month-to-month subscription service that covers 1,000 miles, insurance, maintenance, registration, and road-side assistance at a starting price of $699 per month for a Kona Electric and $899 per month for an Ioniq 5.
Limited availability — at first
Initially the service will be available at select dealerships in six states with plans to add more by the year’s end, Boyle said. Consumers can find available dealers within the app, which offers a Fully Digital Experience.
“As we know, living with an EV is really an educational process,” said Gary Rome, president of the Gary Rome Auto Group in Holyoke, Massachusetts, who is an Evolve+ pilot dealer.
“Evolve+ gives our customers the opportunity to try an electric vehicle and see if it is right for their lifestyle. Evolve+ makes it really easy for a consumer to drive an EV in a more flexible way.”
Hyundai officials noted the subscription model also works for consumers looking to use a car for a short period of time, such as “snowbirds,” who need a car in their winter home, a college student home for the summer, a worker on remote assignment, among many other consumer situations.
As a “turnkey” package, Evolve+ is priced very competitively compared to a traditional lease or purchase. It’s much less expensive than a daily car rental, by about half. If Evolve+ customers like their experience, and want a long-term commitment, the Hyundai dealer can lease or sell them the vehicle.
Hyundai Motor America also has built Evolve+ in partnership with its dealers.
“That’s an important distinction, as it gives Evolve+ customers the benefit of working with a respected local business that’s responsible for the vehicle’s initial condition and maintenance,” Boyle noted.