At the 17th World Car Awards in New York in April, Hyundai stole the show. The South Korean carmaker's Ioniq 5 won in three categories: World Car of the Year, World Electric Vehicle of the Year and World Car Design of the Year. The recognition was not only a win for Asian carmakers but also signalled endorsement of an industry rapidly evolving to phase out internal combustion engines (ICES). "Our game-changing electric vehicle (EV) has made a strong impact on increasingly eco-conscious and demanding consumers around the world, and its success supports the acceleration of electrification of the automotive industry," said president and CEO Jaehoon Chang in a statement.
With 2.45 million sales in 2020, Asia-Pacific is becoming a significant driving force in the adoption of electric vehicles, largely thanks to mainland China. With 1.34 million, the country accounted for the highest number of EVs sold in the world in 2020, due to the similar cost of EVs and ICES. Since Tesla cars first went on sale in Singapore in July 2021 and became the top-selling saloon within two months, the city-state has made a great push in EV adoption, boosting charging provision and trialling electric transport-from taxis and buses to postal service scooters and Grab bikes. However, Japan and South Korea accounted for only 31,000 and 54,000 EV sales respectively, which is being put down to the cars costing twice as much as non-electric models.
As well as being more sustainable than petrol- or diesel-fuelled automobiles, EVs are often a more cost-effective option; in Hong Kong, for example, the government has offered generous tax breaks since 1994 to incentivize their purchase. While there is still a definite cachet attached to owning souped-up sports cars and luxury SUVs, in many places owning an electric vehicle, particularly a Tesla, has become synonymous not only with practicality but also with status and virtue.
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Denne historien er fra June 2022-utgaven av Tatler Hong Kong.
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THE LAST WORD
Every issue, we ask our cover star a round of quickfire questions that give us a little more insight into their personalities. This month: Gulf Kanawut lays it bare
WOMEN AT THE WICKET
Asia's women's cricket teams from outside the Indian subcontinent have been rapidly rising up through the ranks, creating opportunities, breaking barriers and changing the game as they go
TIME TURNER
A 2024 Turner Prize nominee, British Filipino artist Pio Abad talks to Tatler about carrying on family legacy, unearthing historical connections and why the Philippines is always at the core of his work
ROYAL RICHES
Ahead of the opening of Prince and the Peacock, Black Sheep Restaurants' latest establishment, Tatler joins the hospitality group on a culinary pilgrimage to India
MAKING HER POINT
Foil fencer Daphne Chan is happy to see the rising interest in her sport since Cheung Ka-long's historic win, and is headed to the Games with impressive wins behind her. But she's not allowing the pressure to get to her, and is most excited about who she might meet in Paris
IN IT TO WIN IT
Hong Kong freestyle swimmer Ian Ho, whose Instagram handle @Amphlb_ian playfully alludes to his aquatic prowess, competed at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo and won silver in the men's 50 metres freestyle at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou. This month, he will represent Hong Kong at the Paris Olympics. He talks to Tatler about making Hong Kong proud, life as a student and professional athlete-and why relaxing is the way forward
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Two-time Olympic swimmer Camille Cheng thought Tokyo 2020 would be her last Games, but competing in Paris was too big a draw for the French Chinese athlete
INTRIGUE AND INTRICACIES
Parisian artist Ugo Gattoni takes us through his elaborately designed poster for the Olympics and Paralympics in his home city this month
Crafting a New Legacy
Nicholas Lieou, creative director of high jewellery at Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group, is reimagining jewellery, as the brand celebrates its 95th anniversary
A Lasting Legacy
Tatler explores Cartier's latest Watches and Wonders novelties with the maison's image, style and heritage director, who explains how the luxury house continues to create designs that are relevant today, yet rooted in legacy
