- By Divanshi Sharma
- Tue, 25 Jun 2024 05:51 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
South Korean automaker Hyundai has officially discontinued its Kona Electric SUV in India, five years after its debut in July 2019. The Kona Electric was Hyundai's first electric offering in the Indian market, and has been removed from the company's website. The Kona Electric was imported as a Completely Knocked Down (CKD) unit and was priced at Rs 25.30 lakh (ex-showroom).
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Despite a price reduction of nearly Rs 2 lakh towards the end of its run, the arrival of smaller, more affordable electric SUVs made it difficult for the Kona Electric to compete in the Indian EV market. Over its 59-month tenure in India, Hyundai sold only 2,329 units, averaging about 39 cars per month.
The Hyundai Kona Electric featured a 39.2kWh lithium-ion battery pack, providing a range of 452 km on a single charge. The vehicle's front axle was powered by a 136 bhp and 395Nm motor.
Hyundai Creta EV
Looking ahead, Hyundai plans to replace the Kona Electric with the more affordable Creta EV, set to launch in January 2025. The Creta EV will be Hyundai's first mass-market electric vehicle in India and will be manufactured at the company's Tamil Nadu facility near Chennai. The new electric SUV will share some components with the Kona Electric, including its motor and battery, but will be built on the existing Creta platform to keep costs down.
While detailed specifications of the Creta EV are yet to be revealed, it is expected to offer a range of approximately 400-500 km. The price of the Creta EV is anticipated to fall between RS 20 lakh and Rs 30 lakh. This new electric SUV will compete with models like the MG ZS EV, Tata Curvv, Maruti Suzuki eVX, BYD Atto 3 and Mahindra XUV400.