This year’s event showcases impressive new EVs from established brands, including Ford, Hyundai, Jaguar, Nissan, Kia, Porsche, and Subaru. A turning point is clearly in the works as some manufacturers, notably Hyundai and Subaru, focused their booth displays on a shift to electric vehicles. Unfortunately, Tesla only had a paltry display without any staff on hand.
Despite the lack of presence from Rivian and Lucid, other upstarts did make an appearance. Canoo, EdisonFuture, Fisker, Mullen, and VinFast all brought vehicles to the event. It remains to be seen when these vehicles will be mass-produced, but they were impressive nonetheless.
There were also a number of electric “restomods” sprinkled throughout the event. Boutique shops are catering to a growing market for auto enthusiasts that wish to refit vintage cars with an all-electric drivetrain.
Among the many EVs on display, let's take a look at some of the most notable.
The company’s CEO is the one and only Henrik Fisker that has designed iconic vehicles for BMW and Aston Martin as well as the Fisker Karma all-electric sedan from 2012. Fisker rebooted the brand with a bang at the LA Auto Show by debuting the Ocean compact SUV.
The Fisker Ocean goes beyond its inherent sustainability as an EV by incorporating recycled plastic throughout the interior and wheel covers, even from fishing nets pulled from the ocean. According to the company’s website, the first shipments will occur in 2022.
The nation’s best selling pickup truck will soon have an all-electric drivetrain option. The F-150 Lightning debuted in May of this year and was on display for the public in LA. With over 750,000 annual sales, the importance of F-Series electrification cannot be overstated.
The Lightning is especially notable for its ability to provide home backup power through vehicle-to-grid technology (V2G) in addition to more typical EV features like software updates and hands-free driving. Ford expects to scale production to 80,000 units per year in 2024.
Hyundai arrived in a big way to the LA Auto Show. The company had one of the largest booths, featuring trees, a wide assortment of vehicles, an impressive video screen, and a hydrogen-powered XCIENT fuel-cell heavy-duty truck. With a carbon neutrality goal across its entire value chain by 2045, Hyundai clearly wants to be an EV leader.
The company’s new IONIQ 5 self-proclaimed SUV (more of a hatchback) was very impressive in person. The IONIQ 5 is built on the new Hyundai Electric Global Modular Platform, so it represents the company’s launchpad for many EV models to come. Moreover, the platform will be shared across Kia and Genesis for more economies of scale. The car’s simple, modern styling gives it a clean look that differentiates it from the wild designs of some other EVs. In short, it might have a curb appeal for mass adoption.
From the company that makes the Leaf, arguably the most mainstream electric vehicle, comes a new crossover. The Ariya will begin to ship in Fall 2022 with a base price of $45,950 and an extended range up to 300 miles. Nissan will deliver four trim levels with the VENTURE+ being the most affordable, undercutting the cost of an entry-level Tesla Model Y.
Despite unveiling the gorgeous all-electric Concept EV9 in LA, the more important vehicle on display was the EV6. The crossover is fresh off beating Tesla with a record-setting 7 hours and 10 minutes (plus 1 second) of charging time to cross the United States.
Like the Hyundai IONIQ 5, the car is built on a new, shared platform designed specifically for electric vehicles. The car will have an estimated range of up to about 300 miles and is compatible with 800-volt fast chargers. Unfortunately, pricing and shipment details are still coming soon.
Subaru’s focus on the outdoors was in full display at the LA Auto Show. From fake rocks to sounds of wildlife and a high vantage point to see its vehicles, the company wanted to make a big impact with its new Solterra electric vehicle. However, the vehicle will start with just 220 miles of estimated range, likely a low figure for the company’s adventurous clientele.
Many visitors to the LA Auto Show, if not most, will see the VinFast display at the rear of the South Exhibit Hall and react with a bit of confusion. Who is this company and how do they have such a large booth?
VinFast is an upstart Vietnamese manufacturer that debuted a pair of new electric compact SUVs at the show. The small e35 and mid-size e36 were on display, although they were closed off to the public. Much is still unknown about delivery timing and cost.
DG+ recently launched a suite of clean energy market products, including two electric vehicle focused reports that dive into total cost of ownership, state incentives, market share, and much more. For more information on our EV reports, visit our product page.
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