Hyundai is going to bring a new compact electric SUV to compete with Tata Punch EV in the Indian market by 2027. This vehicle will be based on Hyundai Inster and will have advanced features like indigenously made battery pack and Level 2 ADAS.
Hyundai had earlier announced that it will bring a new electric compact SUV for the Indian market. Although the company has not given any official information about the upcoming model, it has confirmed that this EV will be designed, engineered and manufactured in India. The new Hyundai compact SUV is expected to be less than 4 meters long and will directly compete with the Tata Punch EV. This electric vehicle will be produced at Hyundai’s Sriperumbudur plant in Tamil Nadu. The company will use batteries locally sourced from Exide Industries.
What will be special in the new Hyundai compact EV?
This new Hyundai compact EV, codenamed HE1i, may hit Indian roads in 2027. This vehicle may be based on Hyundai Inster EV, which is built on scalable e-GMP (Electric Global Modular Platform). This architecture supports 800V high-speed charging and claims to offer a driving range of more than 500 kilometers. Hyundai has also confirmed that the upcoming compact EV will be available with two battery options.
If we talk about the global market, Hyundai Inster EV has 42kWh (standard range) and 49kWh (long range) battery options, which give WLTP range of 300 km and 355 km respectively. The first one has a 97bhp/147Nm electric motor, while the second one has a 115bhp/147Nm motor. The South Korean company has also confirmed that the new Hyundai compact EV will have an infotainment system supporting Level 2 ADAS (Autonomous Driver Assistance System) and OTA (over-the-air) updates. Like the global model, this EV made in India can also get features like dual-screen setup, automatic climate control, in-car connectivity technology and 360-degree camera with blind-spot monitoring system.
Manufacturing in India and company’s future plan
Hyundai aims to build a strong EV supply chain in India. This will include locally sourced battery cells, high-tech e-powertrain components and a number of parts manufactured in collaboration with local suppliers. Apart from this, the company has also announced plans to launch 26 new models in India by 2030. The plan includes four new products by 2026, eight models in FY 2027-2028 and fourteen models in FY 2029-2030.