Hyundai Motor India launched its much-awaited Creta Electric on January 17 at the Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2025, with a vision to significantly boost the electric vehicle (EV) market in India. The company is optimistic that this new model can play a pivotal role in doubling the country's electric car sales within the next two years. In 2024, India saw approximately 1,06,000 electric car units sold, which accounted for just about 2.5% of the total car sales of 43,00,000 units. Hyundai's target is to accelerate this percentage with the Creta Electric's launch.
Speaking at a select media roundtable, Hyundai’s Whole-Time Director and Chief Operating Officer, Tarun Garg, highlighted that the electric vehicle market in India is still in its early stages. However, he sees the Creta Electric as a potential trigger point for the rapid growth of EV sales in the country. He emphasized that Hyundai's production capabilities are flexible and that the company is poised to meet increasing demand.
The Creta Electric is manufactured at Hyundai’s advanced Sriperumbudur plant in Chennai, which has a production capacity of 8,24,000 units annually. Garg believes the Creta Electric’s arrival, alongside other upcoming EVs, could act as a catalyst for substantial growth in the EV segment, aided by the rapid expansion of the EV charging infrastructure.
The Creta Electric is priced between Rs 17,99,000 and Rs 23,49,900 (ex-showroom) and is offered with two battery options—42kWh and 51.4kWh—offering driving ranges of 390 km and 473 km on a single charge, respectively. Hyundai has focused on reducing charging time as well. Using an 11kW AC charger, the 42kWh battery can be fully charged in approximately 4 hours, while the 51.4kWh battery requires about 4 hours and 50 minutes. For quicker charging, the vehicle can go from 10% to 80% charge in just 58 minutes with a 50kW DC fast charger and in 39 minutes with a 100kW DC fast charger.
Hyundai is not alone in the race to electrify India’s roads. Other major manufacturers such as Mahindra & Mahindra have already launched electric vehicles like the BE 6 and XEV 9e, while Maruti Suzuki introduced its first electric SUV, the e Vitara. Tata Motors continues to expand its EV lineup with models like the Punch.ev, Nexon.ev, and Curvv.ev, with more electric models slated for 2025. Kia India is also preparing a Carens-based EV for 2025, while MG Motor India has been active with its Comet EV, ZS EV, and Windsor EV. New entrants like BYD India and VinFast Auto India are also planning launches in the coming year.
Hyundai is ensuring a seamless experience for Creta Electric users by providing access to 10,000 EV charging points through its myHyundai app, offering nationwide convenience. Garg proudly stated, “You can travel from Kashmir to Kanyakumari in an EV without worrying about charging issues.” In support of this, Hyundai has already set up 50 DC fast chargers across India, with plans to expand this network to 600 DC fast charging stations by 2032.
The Indian government is also ramping up efforts to enhance the EV infrastructure through initiatives like the PM Electric Drive Revolution in Innovative Vehicle Enhancement (PM E-DRIVE) scheme. As part of the Rs 10,900 crore outlay, Rs 2,000 crore has been allocated to improve the public charging network, which is expected to further fuel the EV growth in the country.
The launch of the Creta Electric marks a significant milestone in Hyundai's electric journey in India and signals the company’s strong commitment to accelerating the adoption of clean energy vehicles in the country. With a more robust EV infrastructure and greater variety in electric car options, the future of India's EV market looks promising.
