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Hyundai’s upcoming HE1i electric SUV will sit below the Creta Electric and arrive during the final quarter of FY27

The Ioniq P badge has emerged as the likely production name for Hyundai’s upcoming small electric SUV for India. Hyundai Motor Company management referred to an Ioniq P for the Indian market during its Q3 2026 analyst call, linking the name closely to the HE1i project. Hyundai Motor India has yet to formally connect the two names, so Ioniq P still needs final confirmation before the production model arrives.

The new EV will occupy the space below the Creta Electric, creating a lower entry point into Hyundai’s electric SUV range. The vehicle has been developed around Indian market requirements and production is planned at the Sriperumbudur plant in Tamil Nadu. The underlying E-GMP (K) electric architecture also serves the Hyundai Inster sold internationally, but the HE1i has been developed as a separate India-focused product.

The launch is scheduled for Q4 FY27, which runs from January to March 2027. Recent reports indicate January 2027 as a possible market introduction period. Prototypes have already undergone extensive road testing in India, and newer test vehicles appear much closer to production specification than earlier development cars. The launch will place another Hyundai EV below the Ioniq 5 and Creta Electric in price and positioning.

The battery line-up is set to offer Standard Range and Long Range choices. Hyundai has confirmed the two-range approach but has not published final battery capacities, power figures or certified range numbers. Reports currently point to 42 kWh and 51.4 kWh batteries. A single electric motor producing around 133 bhp and 255 Nm has also been linked to the project, but those figures still await official confirmation.

The equipment story will centre heavily on cabin technology and driver assistance. Hyundai has confirmed Level 2 ADAS and a new-generation infotainment system for the electric SUV. Test vehicles have also shown a large central touchscreen, digital instrumentation, 17-inch alloy wheels and exterior cameras in place of conventional mirrors on certain prototypes. The production specification could differ from these development vehicles.

The first production vehicles are expected to receive imported battery cells after the planned local-cell programme faced delays. Hyundai and Exide Industries are working on domestic battery-cell production, and local sourcing is expected at a later stage. Hyundai has also sought production-linked incentive approval for the upcoming EV after securing approval for the Creta Electric, which points to substantial domestic manufacturing activity around the new model.

The Tata Nexon EV, Mahindra XUV 3XO EV and Kia Syros EV are set to become major rivals once the Hyundai reaches showrooms. Pricing has not been announced, but its position below the Creta Electric indicates a noticeably lower starting figure. The HE1i project also arrives at a time when Hyundai wants electric vehicles to account for a larger share of its Indian sales during FY28, placing the small SUV at the centre of its next EV rollout.

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