Hyundai may have just dropped its biggest hint yet about its next mass market electric car for India. On Friday, October 30, reports said the carmaker has trademarked the name Ioniq P in India, linked to its upcoming sub-4-metre electric SUV. The HE1i-codenamed car has been spotted testing in India and is expected in early 2027.
The timing matters. During its third quarter earnings call on October 29, Hyundai management said the Ioniq P would be the next product after the recently launched Bayon. That comment, plus the trademark filing, has turned a vague future product into one of the most talked about upcoming EVs.
Hyundai has not confirmed Ioniq P as the final showroom name, and carmakers often trademark names they never use. But the car itself is real and is being tested in India as a born-electric mass market model.
What happened today
The Ioniq P name surfaced in reports on October 30, with multiple auto publications noting that Hyundai India has trademarked the name. The reports link it to the small electric SUV Hyundai has already confirmed for India, rather than to a separate, unannounced model.
During the October 29 earnings call, Hyundai management told analysts the Ioniq P would follow the Bayon in its India line-up. The company did not directly link the name to the HE1i codename in that call, but industry watchers have joined the dots: the HE1i is Hyundai’s next small EV, and Ioniq P is the name now in the trademark system.
What we know about the car
The Ioniq P is expected to be a sub-4-metre SUV, which puts it in the sweet spot of the Indian market. Cars under four metres attract lower taxes, and that helps keep prices in reach for first-time EV buyers. Test sightings have shown a boxy, upright shape, a practical stance that should mean good headroom and easy city driving.
It will sit below the Creta Electric. Right now Hyundai’s EV range in India is just the Creta Electric and the premium Ioniq 5, so a smaller, cheaper model fills an obvious gap. It is expected to use Hyundai’s E-GMP (K) platform, the dedicated electric architecture that also underpins the global Inster EV, which usually allows a flat floor and better battery packaging.
Battery and range: what to expect
Reports suggest the India model could share battery options with the Kia Syros EV, which offers 42 kWh and 51.4 kWh packs. On that basis, the smaller battery is tipped to deliver around 443 km of claimed range, and the larger pack up to 526 km. These are expected specifications, not confirmed by Hyundai, so read them as early estimates.
For comparison, the global Inster EV offers 42 kWh and 49 kWh options with up to 355 km on the WLTP cycle. A realistic range of over 400 km from the larger battery version seems likely, and two versions are expected: Standard Range and Long Range.
Made in India, with local batteries on the way
The small EV will be made at Hyundai’s Sriperumbudur plant in Tamil Nadu, with heavy localisation planned to keep the price competitive. One early compromise: it will initially use imported battery cells, with locally made cells from the Hyundai-Kia partnership with Exide Industries expected later in 2027.
Features and rivals
Expected highlights include Hyundai’s next-generation Pleos Connect infotainment system, Level 2 ADAS with adaptive cruise control and lane assist, a 360-degree camera, ventilated front seats, and over-the-air updates.
Its expected rivals include the Tata Punch EV and Nexon EV, the Mahindra XUV 3XO EV, and the Kia Syros EV, each already on sale. Hyundai will need sharp pricing and a strong range claim to stand out, with Maruti Suzuki, VinFast and Honda also working on mass market EVs.
What is not confirmed yet
It is worth separating fact from expectation. Confirmed so far: Hyundai is developing a small, born-electric SUV for India, it will be made in Tamil Nadu, and management has mentioned the Ioniq P name after the Bayon. Not confirmed: the final showroom name, the exact battery sizes, the official range figures, the feature list, and the price.
On timing, reports describe early 2027, the first quarter of 2027, and the fourth quarter of FY2027, all pointing to roughly January to March 2027, possibly at the Bharat Auto Expo. Hyundai has not locked in a date publicly.
FAQs
What is the Hyundai Ioniq P?
It is the tipped name for Hyundai’s upcoming sub-4-metre electric SUV for India, internally codenamed HE1i. Hyundai has trademarked the name, but has not officially confirmed it as the final showroom badge.
When will the Hyundai Ioniq P launch in India?
Reports point to early 2027, in the January to March window, possibly around the Bharat Auto Expo. Hyundai has not announced a confirmed launch date yet.
What range will the Ioniq P offer?
Early reports suggest around 443 km from a smaller battery and up to 526 km from a larger battery, based on expected specifications. These figures are not officially confirmed.
If the Ioniq P lives up to the early reports, early 2027 could be the moment Hyundai becomes a mass market EV player in India, not just a premium one. We will update this story when Hyundai confirms the name, specifications or price.
