After launching the Kona Electric SUV in the Indian market on July 9, 2019, Hyundai has now announced that its maiden electric vehicle (EV) for the country has received ‘120 confirmed customer bookings’ in just 10 days. Factor in the 10,000 test drives requests that Hyundai dealerships are reported to have received during the same period, and this comes off as an impressive feat for the latest Hyundai, which commands a price of Rs 25.30 lakh (ex-showroom, pan-India).
Commenting on the bookings, Vikas Jain, national sales head, Hyundai Motor India, said, “The digital enquires and footfall at our dealerships have increased as customers are excited to experience electric cars. The change of perception and adaptability is clearly visible as there is huge interest and request for test drives.”
One of the main reasons for the considerable interest in the EV could be its specifications. The Kona Electric boasts of an ARAI-tested range of 452km on a single charge from its 39.2kWh battery pack. A 136hp/395Nm synchronous motor powering the front wheels through a single-speed automatic gearbox can propel the SUV from 0-100kph in a claimed 9.7sec. The EV comes equipped with fast charging capabilities and can be juiced up from 0-80 percent in just 57mins with a 50kW DC charger. However, using a 3-pin, 16A domestic AC supply can take a daunting 19 hours to achieve the same task.
In addition to a decent powertrain, the Kona also packs in a respectable amount of kit. It comes with a split headlamp setup, LED DRLs, sunroof, keyless entry/go, automatic climate control, ventilated front seats, digital instrument cluster and a 7.0-inch infotainment display with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Safety is taken care of by six airbags, ABS, electronic stability control, hill-start assist and rear parking sensors and camera.
Introduced in international markets in April 2018, the Hyundai Kona Electric has been successful in garnering roughly 15,000 sales worldwide. In India, the SUV is retailed through 15 dealerships in 11 cities. Though its Rs 25.30 lakh sticker price might come off as being on the higher side for a vehicle of its size, prospective customers could benefit from a Rs 1.40 lakh price drop if the recent proposal for a GST reduction for EVs comes to fruition. In related news, Hyundai is also said to be exploring an affordable EV for the Indian market.
Rivan RS 
Viraaj Bhatnagar
Uday Singh
Suraj Viswanathan
