Rendering
Hyundai is bringing its most affordable electric SUV to India sooner than previously expected. The upcoming compact EV, codenamed HE1i, is now expected to debut by the end of 2026, according to Hyundai Motor India MD and CEO Tarun Garg. The company had earlier indicated a launch by March 2027, but development has progressed quickly enough to bring the debut forward. The new EV will be designed and manufactured in India and will target the rapidly growing mainstream electric SUV segment.
Unlike the Creta Electric, which uses an adapted ICE platform, the new compact EV will be based on Hyundai’s E-GMP (K) architecture. This is the affordable version of Hyundai’s electric platform and also underpins the international Inster EV. The India-spec SUV is expected to be heavily localised and will be manufactured at Hyundai’s Sriperumbudur facility in Tamil Nadu.
One of the biggest developments concerns the battery. Hyundai originally planned to use locally produced cells supplied through its partnership with Exide, but delays in Exide’s battery production programme have forced a temporary change. Hyundai says the first batch of HE1i EVs will therefore use Svolt battery cells. Once locally produced Exide cells become available, Hyundai intends to switch to them. The company has taken this approach to avoid delaying the vehicle’s launch.
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The compact EV will be offered in two versions – Standard Range and Long Range. Hyundai has not yet revealed the India-spec battery capacities, motor output or claimed range. However, the international Inster uses 42 kWh and 49 kWh batteries, with WLTP ranges of up to 300 km and 355 km respectively. These figures should only be treated as a reference for now, as the India-spec model could receive different hardware and calibration.
Hyundai is also not planning to make the new EV a stripped-down, budget offering. The company has confirmed a next-generation infotainment system and Level 2 assisted driving technology. The final equipment list is yet to be revealed, but the Inster’s international specification includes features such as dual 10.25-inch displays, ADAS, automatic climate control and a 360-degree camera.
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The HE1i will enter a segment that is getting increasingly crowded. It will compete with the Tata Nexon EV, Mahindra XUV 3XO EV and Kia Syros EV, while its positioning below the Creta Electric should allow Hyundai to reach a considerably wider audience.
