Hyundai is planning its first properly affordable electric SUV for India, codenamed HE1i. It's a sub-4-meter EV designed, sourced, and built in India, with Exide batteries to keep costs down. If you're waiting to buy a Nexon EV or Punch EV, this one is worth watching, but a lot is still guesswork right now.
When is the HE1i launching?
Hyundai is expected to preview the HE1i in December 2026. The full market launch is slated for January 2027 at the Bharat Mobility Global Expo. That timing is reported, not officially confirmed by Hyundai, so treat it as a strong signal rather than a locked date. What is confirmed by Hyundai's leadership is the car itself: CEO Jose Munoz said a brand-new compact SUV is coming, designed and localized in India.
Expected price: how affordable will it be?
Nothing on price is official yet. Reports suggest top-spec variants will land in the mass-premium bracket, under ₹25 lakh (ex-showroom, before road tax and insurance, which vary by state). The whole point is to sit below the Creta Electric in Hyundai's line-up. For a real fight against the Tata Nexon EV, though, the base variant will need to start much lower than that ceiling. We'll only know the actual starting price closer to launch.
Made in India: platform and Exide batteries
The HE1i rides on the E-GMP (K) platform, a dedicated EV base built for local production. A skateboard EV platform like this frees up cabin space and packages the battery under the floor. Production happens at Hyundai's Sriperumbudur plant in Tamil Nadu. The big cost play is the battery: Hyundai will use Exide-sourced cells made in India, which cuts import costs. Higher localization usually means sharper pricing, and that's the whole strategy here.
Battery and range: what's known so far
Here's the honest bit: no official battery or range figures exist yet. The HE1i is expected to come in standard-range and long-range versions. Battery pack sizes, motor power, and claimed range are all expected to be revealed nearer the launch. So anyone quoting a specific kWh (battery size) or km figure right now is guessing. We'll add real numbers once Hyundai shares them.
Design and size: a sub-4-meter EV
The HE1i is aimed squarely at the sub-4-meter electric SUV space (under 4 meters long, which also helps with lower tax). That puts it in the same footprint as the Punch EV and XUV 3XO EV. Beyond that, actual design details, dimensions, and cabin layout haven't been shown. No clear spy images or measurements are confirmed yet, so we're not going to invent a look for it.
Features: Level 2 ADAS and new infotainment
Hyundai has confirmed a next-generation infotainment system, possibly its Pleos Connect setup. The HE1i will also get Level 2 ADAS (safety tech that can brake and steer to help avoid crashes). At this price point, that's a strong feature set if it filters down to lower variants. Full feature lists by variant are still to come.
Rivals: Nexon EV, Punch EV, XUV 3XO EV, Syros EV
The HE1i walks straight into a crowded fight. Its main rivals are the Tata Nexon EV and Tata Punch EV, the two cars that own the affordable EV space today. It also lines up against the Mahindra XUV 3XO EV and the upcoming Kia Syros EV. Hyundai's edge is deep local sourcing and the Exide battery, which could let it match Tata on price for the first time. That matters, because price is what decides this segment.
Confirmed vs. speculation: read this before you get excited.
Let's be clear about what's real. Confirmed by Hyundai: an India-designed, India-built compact EV is coming, on the E-GMP (K) platform, with Exide batteries, Level 2 ADAS, and new infotainment. Reported but not official: the December 2026 preview, the January 2027 launch, and the sub-₹25 lakh price hint. Not known at all: battery size, range, power, exact dimensions, and design. If you need a new EV now, buy today. If you can wait, the HE1i is a genuine reason to hold on.
References: Hyundai India — official website
