Hyundai to Begin Local EV Assembly in India

Hyundai Motor Co. plans to begin assembling all-electric versions of its Kona small crossover vehicle in Chennai, India, later this year.

Hyundai introduced the 2.53 million-rupee ($37,000) Kona Electric (pictured) in South Korea in 2018. In most markets, the SUV is fitted with a 64-kWh lithium-ion battery and 150-kW electric motor. The package provides 560 km (345 miles) of range, according to the company.

Indian versions of the Kona EV, which will be assembled from complete knock-down kits, will be fitted with a 39-kWh battery and 100-kW motor. The combination is expected to deliver a range of 452 km (280 miles) per charge.

Hyundai will market the Kona EV through 15 dealerships in 11 cities across India. The carmaker also is marketing home charging kits. And it has partnered with India energy company Indian Oil Corp. to install fast-charging DC stations at many conventional service stations.

Separately, Hyundai is developing a mass-market EV for India to debut within three years. The vehicle will come with a battery that provides about 200 km (124 miles) per charge.

The Kona EV has quickly become Hyundai’s best-selling electric. InsideEVs reports that model’s global sales totaled 14,800 units in the first half of 2019.