Hyundai Ioniq 5 EV spied testing – India launch soon?

Unlike its sibling, the Kia EV6, Hyundai Ioniq 5 could be launched in India as a CKD unit with much more competitive pricing.

We're well aware that Hyundai is planning to launch its flagship electric crossover, the Ioniq 5, in India soon. The move is imminent also because Kia launched the EV6 in India a few months ago, which is essentially the same car underneath – both models are underpinned by Hyundai Motor Group's new E-GMP platform and offer the same battery pack options.

However, there's still no confirmed timeline for the Ioniq 5's India launch, as some reports suggest a late 2022 launch, while others claim an early 2023 debut. The car was recently spotted being tested under heavy camouflage in Delhi, which seems to suggest that it could arrive soon, probably by the end of this year.

Speculation aside, there are some interesting bits of information available about the India-spec Ioniq 5. To begin with, Hyundai is planning to give the premium EV a big competitive edge over the EV6 in terms of pricing. For this, Hyundai is most likely to bring the Ioniq 5 via the CKD route, meaning that it will be assembled in India. The EV6, on the contrary, is sold here as a CBU.

Moreover, to keep the cost in check, the Ioniq 5 could arrive only with the smaller battery pack option (58kWh) and a single motor layout. In comparison, the EV6 comes with a larger 77.4kWh battery pack and also offers an all-wheel-drive (dual-motor) configuration. So, while the EV6 range starts from ₹ 59.95 lakh, the Ioniq 5 could have sub-₹ 50 lakh starting pricing (ex-showroom), which would be a significant difference.

At that price point, when launched, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 will compete with EVs like the Volvo XC40 Recharge (₹ 55.90 lakh), Mini Cooper SE (₹ 47.20 lakh), and, of course, the Kia EV6.

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