Hyundai has officially discontinued the Kona Electric in India, five years after its launch in July 2019. While the next-generation Kona Electric is being introduced in international markets, Hyundai plans to replace it in India with the more affordable Creta EV, expected to launch early next year.
The Kona Electric has been removed from Hyundai’s Indian website, but some dealers still have unsold units available at discounted prices, depending on availability.
The Kona Electric faced stiff competition from more affordable electric SUVs like the Tata Nexon EV, which impacted its market presence. The Kona Electric was equipped with a 39.2kWh battery, offering an ARAI-certified range of 452km. It was Hyundai’s first electric vehicle in the Indian market, priced initially at Rs 25.30 lakh. Despite a price reduction of nearly Rs 2 lakh, the introduction of more affordable electric SUVs such as the Tata Nexon EV, MG ZS EV, and Mahindra XUV400 further challenged the Kona Electric’s market position.
In India, the Kona Electric featured a 39.2kWh lithium-ion battery pack powering a 133 BHP motor with 395 NM of torque, delivering a range of 452km per charge. Over its 59-month sales period, Hyundai sold 2,329 units of the Kona Electric, averaging about 39 units per month.
While the new Kona Electric is being launched in markets like Indonesia, there are no plans for its introduction in India. Instead, Hyundai is set to launch the Creta EV, a “high volume” electric SUV, by January. The upcoming Creta EV will share some components with the Kona Electric, such as the motor, battery, and certain interior elements, while also incorporating body panels and the platform from the Creta to reduce costs.
The Creta EV will be positioned at a more competitive price point compared to the Kona Electric, targeting a broader market. It will compete with new entrants in the midsize electric SUV segment, including the Tata Curvv EV and the EV models from Toyota and Maruti, all expected to be priced similarly.