Hyundai Creta electric SUV: price, launch, rival details

While this week’s Auto Expo 2023 will have Hyundai display their show-stopper Ioniq 5 and Ioniq 6 EVs, the Korean brand has already begun work on something more mainstream for our market as far as EVs go.

1. Hyundai Creta EV to go on sale in early 2025 
2. Will rival Maruti’s upcoming YY8 EV SUV 
3. Hyundai to launch six EVs by 2028

Our sister publication Autocar Professional learns that Hyundai has begun developing an all-electric Creta, internally known as project SU2i EV, which is likely to premiere at the 2025 Auto Expo. The Creta EV is expected to see series production by the last quarter of 2024.

The EV SUV is expected to be shown in production guise at the 2025 Auto Expo, and a market launch is likely to follow in the first quarter of 2025. The Creta EV will arrive at around the same time as its rival – Maruti’s YY8 EV SUV. 

The YY8 is likely to premiere at the mega show a few years from now. This SUV is being jointly developed with Toyota and both brands will curate their respective versions of it. As far as the Creta EV goes, sources tell us that Hyundai is eyeing a modest 20,000 to 25,000 units per annum for the domestic market. Interestingly, it is similar to the volumes planned by Maruti Suzuki for its upcoming YY8 EV.

Hyundai taking a top-down EV approach for India

The question is, how will they do it? Considering the vast universe of macro variables that will be involved, Hyundai management will opt for a top-down, three-tiered approach. The first step is to use completely knocked-down units or completely built-up imports like the Ioniq 5 and the Kona Electric; the second step is where it will develop an internal combustion engine platform-derived EV, which is where the Creta EV fits in; and lastly, a complete localisation of E-GMP platform, which will be used for India and global markets.

Till the time the Creta EV is being readied, Hyundai will rely on the Kona and Ioniq 5 at the top end to establish the brand credentials, even as it gets the back end in place for sourcing, manufacturing and the charging infrastructure in place.

Hyundai Creta EV expected price in India

Sources say the Creta EV may be priced between Rs 15 lakh to Rs 30 lakh. This space is set to become the core of electric vehicles’ offerings. The home-grown Tata Motors and Mahindra & Mahindra are also likely to populate the space with at least half a dozen new offerings.

The Hyundai manufacturing facility in Chennai has seen a lot of repurposing activity and is said to be ready to accommodate the production of ICE-platform-based electric vehicles. In FY22, Hyundai Motor India invested Rs 1,472 crore in the expansion of plant capacity to 8.5 lakh units to cater to future demand.  

More electric Hyundais by 2028 in India

India is a very strong market for the South Korean brand, and so it is natural that it becomes an integral part of the headquarters’ shift towards EVs. The parent company HMC has planned a portfolio of half a dozen electric vehicles for India by 2028. Hyundai will be spending close to $500 million (over Rs 4,000 crore) for this purpose. In its FY22 annual filing with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, the company had said it is accelerating its EV plans in India as it expects the market for EVs to grow at a compounded annual growth rate of 90 percent to $150 billion by the end of the decade.

Government support for EVs very important

Last October, on the rising penetration for EVs, Hyundai Motor India had said the drivers of EV adoption are the rising fuel prices and higher cost of ICE vehicles that impact their affordability. The government’s support for EVs is also playing a big role. “Central schemes such as FAME and PLI have increased the investments in manufacturing of EVs,” the company said in a note. “Many state governments have also provided demand incentives and capital assistance for setting up greenfield manufacturing plants.”

Also see: 

Hyundai Ioniq 5 to launch at Auto Expo 2023

All-new Hyundai Kona revealed