Exclusive: Hyundai IONIQ 5 & Kia EV6 Launch Timelines: EV Flagships Ready For India

The news, many of us have been waiting for, is confirmation on the arrival of the Kia EV6 and Hyundai IONIQ 5 flagship EV crossovers to India. The Kia EV6 crossover will make its India debut in the first half of May 2022, while its alter-ego, the Hyundai IONIQ 5 will launch in late October of this year. And while the Kia model will begin as a CBU (completely built import), the IONIQ 5 will be launched as a locally assembled car rolling out from Hyundai's Chennai plant. This means price positioning for the two will be entirely different.

Also Read: Kia EV6 India Review: The Rise Of The New Age EV

Also Read: Exclusive: Hyundai IONIQ 5 EV Review

The IONIQ 5 will be launched as a locally assembled car rolling out from Hyundai's Chennai plant

Sources have revealed to carandbike that this is purely intentional as the strategy at both brands is also very different. So while we can expect the IONIQ 5 at the Rs. 35-40 lakh price point, the EV6 will be positioned above Rs. 50 lakh. Kia is looking at following a similar phased rollout as Mercedes-Benz does in India with some of its flagship models. That is to say - the market launch happens with an all-in, fully loaded, top-spec, import variant. And then the company will subsequently move to CKD (completely knocked down) kits for locally assembling the EV6 (likely only in 2023).

Also Read: Exclusive: Kia EV6 Review

The Kia EV6 will come to India as a completely built unit.

The Kia EV6 will have its debut in May, but bookings and deliveries will likely be further staggered between then and Diwali. The car we are likely to get at the start will be the range-topper. The GT-Line variant with dual e-AWD and the longer range 77.4 kWh battery. It has a 320 bhp output and offer 605 Nm of peak torque The e-AWD (all-wheel drive) means that this variant gets two motors - one at each axle. Driving range will be around 425 kms. The EV6 does get other variants which we may see launching later, if at all. The Hyundai IONIQ 5 too shares similar drivetrains, but the focus for India will be on the locally assembled variant, likely to come with the 58 kWh battery. This rear-wheel drive variant makes 168 bhp and 350 Nm of peak torque. It has a single 125 kW motor and a drive range of 384 kms. Hyundai may also bring its higher spec 72.6 kWh battery variant as a limited volume import - that has similar credentials to the EV6's powertrain mentioned above. But the strategy is being conceived around the more competitively prices locally assembled model.

Hyundai is likely to bring its higher spec 72.6 kWh battery variant as a limited volume import

The Hyundai Motor Group (HMG) onslaught on electric vehicles (EVs) worldwide has been led by these two that have become flagships for their individual brands. The Genesis brand has the GV60 to play that role. But all these cars are built on HMG's progressive new E-GMP skateboard platform. The modular electric architecture will spawn a multitude of EVs for all three brands in various sizes and body styles going forward. Even the mass-market SUV that Hyundai has purportedly been working on for markets like India is likely to emerge from an E-GMP base. carandbike has reached out to the India HQ of both brands, and has as yet not received a revert from them.

While Kia India is yet to cement a strategy for EVs in India, Hyundai has already announced that it's planning to launch 6 new battery electric vehicles in India by 2028 for which an investment of Rs. 4000 crore has been earmarked. The EVs will be introduced across segments, like crossover, SUV, and hatchbacks.