Hyundai Unveils IONIQ Concept THREE at IAA Mobility 2025
Hyundai Motor Company unveiled Concept THREE, its first compact electric vehicle concept under the IONIQ sub-brand, at IAA Mobility 2025 in Munich. The global debut signals Hyundai’s intention to expand its EV portfolio into the high-demand compact class, while reinforcing its leadership in Europe’s transition to clean energy. Alongside the reveal, the company showcases its full electric lineup and outlines a Europe-centric electrification strategy that focuses on practical mobility, emotional appeal and sustainable design.
Concept THREE marks the next step in Hyundai’s electrification journey. As the first compact EV concept in the IONIQ family, it complements the existing midsize and large electric models. It targets the growing European appetite for compact electric cars, driven by urbanisation, stricter sustainability rules, and the need for space-efficient solutions. Hyundai utilises its advanced electrification capabilities to create a car that combines everyday usability with a distinctive, emotionally resonant character, thereby strengthening its competitive position in the European EV market.
“Returning to IAA Mobility after four years away is a true milestone, and such an occasion deserves a milestone car,” said Xavier Martinet, President and CEO of Hyundai Motor Europe. “Concept THREE represents the next step in Hyundai Motor’s electrification journey. With its compact dimensions and Art of Steel design language, it embodies our vision of delivering mobility that is practical, accessible and emotionally resonant”.
Design sets the tone for the concept. The Art of Steel translates the strength and flexibility of steel into sculptural forms, characterised by flowing volumes and crisp lines that convey a powerful yet gentle, timeless quality. The Aero Hatch profile shapes three main surfaces into enveloping forms, with intersecting lines that add visual tension, enhance aerodynamic efficiency, and a distinctive roofline, combined with a vertical tailgate for urban versatility. Parametric Pixel lighting appears at the front and rear, now more expressive and arranged as a gradient to add depth and rhythm. An anodised-effect exterior finish channels the spirit of Art of Steel, while lemon-tinted glass and matching wheels link exterior and interior. Inside, soft yellow and grey tonalities play across shifting textures to create a calm yet expressive furnished space.
Hyundai designs the cabin to feel warm, intuitive and serene, using soft volumes and user-focused layouts that make controls clear at a glance. Modular Bring Your Own Lifestyle widgets enable tailored in-car experiences, allowing drivers to personalise every journey. A symbolic character, Mr. Pix, appears throughout the car to spark curiosity and delight, adding playful storytelling through hidden surprises and interactive elements. The interior features sustainable materials, including ocean-waste textiles, recycled wool and plastics, and lightweight aluminium foam, underscoring Hyundai’s long-term commitment to reducing environmental impact while delivering a premium design.
Europe remains a central focus for Hyundai’s EV strategy. The region’s diverse cultures, progressive environmental policy and urban mobility needs make it a hub for innovation in electric vehicles. Nearly 80 per cent of Hyundai cars sold in Europe are locally manufactured, which enables the brand to tailor solutions for both urban and rural communities. The roadmap includes offering an electrified version of every model in Europe by 2027 and launching 21 global EV models by 2030, advancing hydrogen fuel cell technology for future mobility, and transitioning European factories to renewable energy while expanding the use of recycled and sustainable materials. Compact EVs, such as the Concept THREE, play a pivotal role in addressing urban challenges and making electrification accessible and attractive to European consumers.
Hyundai’s return to IAA Mobility after four years marks a significant milestone at Europe’s largest mobility event. With 750 exhibitors and more than 500,000 visitors expected from 110 countries, the show has evolved since 2021 into a city-wide festival that stretches from Munich’s Messe halls to open spaces in the city centre, enabling immersive, direct engagement with consumers. This format provides the ideal stage for Hyundai to advance its ambition to lead Europe’s electrification movement and to redefine urban mobility.
At the IAA Open Space, Hyundai presents a 58-metre-wide, 7-metre-tall booth on Ludwigstraße. Inspired by the Parametric Pixel signature, the structure uses six oversized glass pixels to create a striking presence that underscores innovation and emotive design leadership. Visitors can explore a curated design exhibition that brings key elements to life, including a sculpture inspired by Concept THREE’s exterior, which celebrates steel’s beauty, strength, and flexibility, as well as a furnished lounge chair that reflects the seat and console composition. The Hyundai AddGear display showcases flexible item mounting, allowing guests to experience modular in-car accessories firsthand.
The stand features the global unveiling of Concept THREE, signalling Hyundai’s ambitions in Europe’s B-segment for compact EVs. A comprehensive EV lineup is on display, including the KONA Electric, IONIQ 5, IONIQ 6 N, IONIQ 9, IONIQ 7, Concept THREE, and INSTEROID. Test drives cover nine models, including the KONA Electric, IONIQ 5, IONIQ 5 N, IONIQ 6, IONIQ 9, INSTER, INSTER Cross, TUCSON PHEV, and SANTA FE PHEV, giving visitors a firsthand electrified experience.
Concept THREE’s key specifications reinforce its urban-ready stance. The car measures 4,287 mm in length, 1,940 mm in width, and 1,428 mm in height, with a 2,722 mm wheelbase, ensuring confident proportions and efficient packaging. The exterior is available in Tungsten Grey, while the interior features Moonbeam Yellow finishes. Signature features include the Aero Hatch profile for aerodynamic efficiency and versatility, Parametric Pixel lighting for a distinctive graphic identity, the Art of Steel design language that elevates material honesty, and a material-driven, anodised-effect finish that ties every element together.
By pairing compact dimensions with expressive design, sustainable materials and a personalisable user experience, Hyundai positions Concept THREE to set the tone for its next chapter of EV design innovation and to meet Europe’s demand for practical, emotionally engaging electric mobility.
