Hyundai has silently discontinued the Kona in India. The Kona, initially launched in 2019, now sees the end of its lifetime after 5 years. At this time, Hyundai introduced the Ioniq 5, which will now be its lone warrior in the EV front. That might only stay true for a while as we expect Hyundai to introduce the Creta EV sometime around 2025.
About Kona EV
The Kona first saw the dawn of the day in 2017 when it was launched in the global market. When it made its way to India, it was the first electric car from the major players of the Indian car market. It was launched with a price tag of Rs 25.30 lakh (Ex-showroom). Power on the Kona was delivered by a 100 kW motor that produced 131 Bhp of power and 395 Nm of torque. Behind the power of this motor was a 39.2 kWh battery that gave a claimed range of 453 km with a full charge. The Kona couldn’t achieve much success in India in terms of sales because of its outdated interior and crossover design in a market that loves SUVs. That said, it set a platform for electric cars from Hyundai in India.
The Successor: Creta EV
Hyundai recently confirmed that they plan to launch their first mass-market electric vehicle in January 2025. We expect this to be the electric Creta produced in Hyundai’s Tamil Nadu factory. This might be a very profitable mood for Hyundai as they can gain from the reputation of the ICE Creta, which has been their cash cow for a long time. It will be a part of Hyundai’s plans to launch six electric cars in India by 2028, including the Ioniq 5.
Information on the Creta EV is currently scarce, but we expect it to reach a range of 400-500 km. This will be in direct competition with the range of Maruti Suzuki’s upcoming electric SUV, the eVX which is expected to get a range of 550 km. The eVX will use a dedicated electric skateboard platform that will enable it to get a more spacious cabin. It will be interesting to see if the Creta EV will do the same or go for a modified version of the Creta ICE.
With its expected price between 20 to 30 lakh, the Creta EV will face fierce competition, unlike its predecessor. It might lock horns with cars like the MG ZS EV, Maruti Suzuki eVX, Mahindra XUV400 and BYD Atto 3.
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