Creta EV Is First Of 4 New Electric Cars Hyundai Will Launch In India: Details
Hyundai already has a premium electric vehicle on sale in India- the IONIQ 5. The Korean manufacturer is now gearing up to enter the mainstream EV space. It seems to have a carefully curated plan for this with several interesting products in the pipeline. The Creta EV will spearhead Hyundai’s mass market EV onslaught in India. The all-electric Creta is expected to launch by January 2025.
Creta EV: Hyundai’s First Mainstream Electric SUV
The Creta EV is the first of four all-new electric cars Hyundai has planned for India. It will be based on the standard Creta, a model that enjoys high acceptance in India. When launched, it will compete with the Tata Curvv.EV, BYD eMax7, MG ZS EV and the upcoming Maruti eVX. Hyundai is expected to price the electric Creta competitively.
The EV has been spotted on test multiple times, indicating an imminent launch. The electric Creta is hoped to share a lot of its design details with the ICE counterpart. Notable deviations will include EV-spec grille, reworked lamps, revised bumpers and new wheels. There will be a strong visual resemblance to the facelifted Creta.
On the inside, the EV will feature Hyundai’s EV-specific ‘3 DOTS’ steering wheel, which has a 3-spoke design. Paddle shifters could also be there, to probably control the regen levels. The central console and tunnel also get notable design reworks. There will be a curvilinear infotainment system and driver display, like the ICE model. The seats will have a comfortable design and new EV-spec upholstery. The vehicle will also come with more features and tech than its ICE counterpart.
The EV will use an electrified version of the Creta’s modified K2 platform. While details on it are sparse, it could come with a 45 kWh battery pack that offers a range of up to 450 km. The electric motors could be borrowed from the previous Kona EV and likely generate 138 PS and 255 Nm.
What’s Coming Next?
Following the Creta EV, Hyundai will launch its second mass-market EV- an electric micro-SUV- the Inster EV (codenamed HE1i). Slated for a 2026 launch, this EV will compete with the Tata Punch EV. Built on Hyundai’s E-GMP platform, the Inster EV could become one of the most affordable EVs in India.
The Inster is the electric version of the Hyundai Casper. Even when it might look similar, the EV will be larger in dimensions than the ICE counterpart. It could slot in between the A-segment hatchbacks and B SUVs. It will have circular LED DRLs, pixel-graphic turn signals, tail lamps, and bumpers. 15 or 17-inch wheels, among other things.
On the inside, it will likely have dual 10.25-inch screens- one for infotainment and the other for driver display, wireless phone charging, automatic climate control, a 360-degree camera, ADAS, and a gear knob placed behind the steering wheel.
Hyundai has revealed two different versions of the Inster- Standard range and Extended range. The former gets a 42 kWh battery pack while the latter has a 49 kWh battery. The long-range iteration is claimed to offer a WLTP range of 355 km per charge. It will support up to 120 kW DC fast charging.
While these two models are confirmed, Hyundai is also considering all-electric versions of the next-gen Venue and Grand i10 NIOS. The Venue EV will be particularly crucial, as it will compete with the Nexon EV, India’s best-selling electric SUV, and the upcoming Mahindra XUV300 EV. Meanwhile, the Grand i10 Nios-based EV will challenge the Tiago EV, known for its affordability and practicality. These two launches could potentially reinforce Hyundai’s position as a strong EV player.
Big Investment in Indian EV Manufacturing
The carmaker has committed a massive Rs 20,000 crore to electric vehicle development in India over the next eight years. This investment will help turn India into a major hub for its mainstream EV production. With plans to produce over 90,000 units annually—including 26,000 units of the Creta EV and 65,000 units of the Inster EV, Hyundai seems to be dreaming it big…