Hyundai Kona Electric sells out for 2019

Hyundai has reached its production allocation for the Kona Electric in the UK, leading to a waiting list for the electric crossover.

The electric crossover combines an official range of 279 miles with a relatively affordable £30,000 price tag and a desirable SUV body style. When it went on sale in August 2018, Hyundai announced that it would only be taking orders online in a bid to stem demand.

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Around 1000 orders have been taken to date, with just under 200 cars delivered. In 2018, 15,474 new electric vehicles were registered in the UK, meaning the Kona Electric is a strong player in a niche (but growing) sector.

A Hyundai spokesperson confirmed that Kona Electric buyers are currently looking at a waiting time of just under 12 months, with some trim and colour combinations able to be supplied sooner.

Any customer interested in placing an order will now go onto a reservation list and will be contacted as further supply becomes available. If they wish to continue with their order at that point, a deposit is then taken to secure the reservation.

Concerns have previously been raised around the supply of electric vehicles after Britain's withdrawal from the EU. After Brexit, new car sales in the UK will no longer contribute to emission targets set by the European Union. This means car manufacturers might choose to prioritise the sale of electric vehicles in EU countries in a bid to reduce their average emissions.

Hyundai has said this isn't the case with the Kona Electric, however.

"Hyundai is absolutely committed to delivering low emission vehicles to market and our plan is that our production and stock levels will remain the same after Brexit," said a spokesperson.

"We are working hard with our factory to secure additional production of Kona Electric and our aim with the waiting list is to provide clear transparency in terms of waiting times to our customers."

Audi has also said that it doesn't think Brexit will temper deliveries of its new e-tron electric SUV in the UK, while Nissan says it has a lead time of a couple of months for the popular Leaf electric car.