Hyundai’s Upcoming Electric Creta: Spied Prototype and Expected Specs

Hyundai India has begun its foray into the electric vehicle market with the launch of the Ioniq 5 and the showcasing of the Ioniq 6 at the Auto Expo last month. However, the company is also developing a more mainstream electric vehicle for the Indian market, the electric Creta crossover, codenamed SU2i EV. A recent sighting of an early prototype of the Creta EV based on the conventional variant was captured by automotive enthusiast Nitin Tyagi while he was charging his electric vehicle.

The prototype has an easily noticeable protrusion from the floor pan which appears to be a structural member supporting the battery pack. The visible differences between the test mules and the regular Creta are the floor pan extension and the different body panel colours. The production version is expected to be based on the modified version of the current IC-engine platform, which will enable Hyundai to produce the vehicle with minimal modifications and investments to its existing assembly lines.

However, in the long term, Hyundai India plans to localize its fully electric E-GMP architecture for both domestic and export markets. While details on the specifications of the Creta EV are scarce, it is expected that the critical sub-systems will be derived from the Kona EV, including a 100 kW (136 hp) PMSM electric motor with a peak torque output of 395 Nm and a battery pack with a capacity of 39.2 kWh, which should be good for an ARAI-certified range of over 400 km.

The new Hyundai Creta EV is anticipated to be unveiled at the 2025 Auto Expo before going on sale later that year. Its debut timeline coincides with that of its primary competitor, the Maruti YY8 electric SUV (codename). The Creta EV is expected to be priced between Rs 20 to 30 lakh, and Hyundai aims to sell around 25,000 units per annum with its mid-premium EV offering. Other OEMs such as Tata, Maruti, and Mahindra are also aiming to position their volume-oriented electric crossovers in the same segment, which should make for intense competition that will ultimately benefit customers.