Hyundai sells only two EVs in India today, and both are pricey: the Creta EV at ₹18.03–24.7 lakh and the Ioniq 5 at ₹55.71 lakh. That leaves a big gap in the affordable space. Now Hyundai has confirmed a new compact electric SUV, codenamed HE1i, designed and built in India, arriving by March 2027 to fill it.
What has Hyundai confirmed about the compact electric SUV?
At its 2026 CEO Investor Day, Hyundai confirmed a brand-new compact electric SUV for India. CEO José Muñoz put it simply: "A brand-new compact SUV is coming, designed and localised in India." The car carries the codename HE1i and was first teased back at Investor Day 2025. Two things are officially confirmed on features: a next-generation infotainment system and Level 2 ADAS (safety tech that can steer and brake to help you in traffic). This is Hyundai's first proper attempt at an affordable EV in India, a gap its current lineup does not cover.
Launch timing: Q4 FY2027 or March 2027?
Hyundai has confirmed the debut by March 2027, which lines up with the fourth quarter of its financial year (Q4 FY2027). At the same event, Muñoz spoke of "an A-SUV EV for India" among the next eight months of global launches, which points to the same car. Some industry chatter mentions a possible late-2026 arrival, but that is not confirmed. Hyundai has not announced an exact launch date. So treat March 2027 as the outer window, not a fixed day.
Platform, battery and range: E-GMP (K) and local Exide cells
The HE1i is a born-electric SUV built on the E-GMP (K) platform, a version of Hyundai's dedicated EV architecture. The same platform underpins the Hyundai Inster sold abroad. It will be made at Hyundai's Sriperumbudur plant in Tamil Nadu, using locally sourced Exide batteries to cut costs. Two versions are planned: standard range and long range. Hyundai has not revealed the India battery sizes or range yet. For context only, the Euro-spec Inster offers a 42kWh battery with 300km WLTP range and a 49kWh battery with 355km. Treat those as reference numbers, not India specs. Real driving range will likely be lower than any claimed figure.
Features: next-gen infotainment, Level 2 ADAS, the made-in-India edge
The confirmed next-gen infotainment could be the Pleos Connect system, which is also expected on the upcoming third-gen Creta. Screen size and hardware details are not out yet. Level 2 ADAS is confirmed too, though which exact functions (like adaptive cruise or lane keep) come to the India car is not clear. The real advantage here is localisation. Designing, building and sourcing batteries in India lets Hyundai control costs, which matters most in this price-sensitive segment.
Rivals: Nexon EV, XUV 3XO EV, Syros EV, where will it price?
Hyundai has positioned the HE1i against the Tata Nexon EV and Mahindra XUV 3XO EV. The Kia Syros EV, priced ₹13.5–20 lakh ex-showroom, is a group cousin in the same fight. Hyundai has not shared a price, and we won't guess one. But sitting below the Creta EV's ₹18.03 lakh starting price is the whole point. Being India-made gives it a fair shot at competitive pricing. As always, ex-showroom is not the final cost. On-road adds road tax, registration and insurance, and EV road-tax waivers vary by state, so check your RTO.
The bigger picture: 26 models by 2030, next-gen Creta and i10 also coming
This EV is one piece of a much larger plan. Hyundai says it will launch up to 26 new models in India by 2030, including cars from its luxury Genesis brand, which is due here in 2027. The company also confirmed a next-gen Creta, its best-seller for a decade, and an all-new i10 hatchback, though timelines stay under wraps. Hyundai expects electrified cars to make up 50 percent of its India sales by 2030. The HE1i is the car that finally gets Hyundai into the affordable EV race.
References: Hyundai India — official website
