- At Thursday’s auto show, the South Korean carmaker announced the launch of the Evolve+.
- The subscription program will allow users to rent an electric car for as little as $699 per month.
- The monthly fee includes insurance, maintenance and 1,000 miles, according to a news release.
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Hyundai has launched a car subscription service for those considering switching to an electric vehicle or who don’t want the commitment of renting a car.
The South Korean carmaker on Thursday announced the launch of its Evolve+ electric vehicle subscription service at the 2023 Chicago Auto Show. A company press release describes the month-to-month subscription as a flexible and affordable alternative to leasing or owning a car.
Using the Evolve+ app, customers can reserve the Kona Electric for $699 per month or the Hyundai Ioniq 5 for $899, and pick it up at participating dealerships later. Unlike a standard car lease, the monthly membership fee includes insurance, maintenance and 1,000 miles of driving, according to the release. The service is currently only available in six states, though the company didn’t name them in the announcement.
The Evolve+ app is available on the Google Play store and the Apple App Store. Courtesy of Hyundai
Hyundai recommends the program for college students home on summer break, employees working on remote assignments, and “snowbirds” who need transportation when visiting their winter homes. It’s also advertised as a way to test drive an electric vehicle without making any long-term commitments.
“As we know, living with an EV is truly an educational process,” said Gary Rome, President Gary Rome Auto Group and an Evolve+ Pilot dealer. “Evolve+ gives our customers the opportunity to try out an electric vehicle and see if it’s the right fit for their lifestyle. Evolve+ makes it really easy for a consumer to drive an EV in a more flexible way.”
However, Hyundai is still working on the problem of renting electric vehicles. At this time, the company says there’s no support for adding home chargers or including access to public chargers, CNN Business reported. A Hyundai spokesperson told the publication that they are “currently exploring ways to incorporate charging with the subscription.”
Insider’s Tim Levine reported that in March 2022, rental car startup Kyte announced a similar subscription service for users to rent a Tesla Model 3 for $995 a month. Unlike Kyte’s plan, Evolve+ users can cancel their subscription and return the car at any time.
“With no paperwork, no commitment and no long-term loan, the Evolve+ is the optimal solution for the ‘EV-curious’ car shopper,” said Olabisi Boyle, Vice President of Product Planning, Hyundai Motor North America.
Source: www.bing.com
