Chennai: Hyundai Motor India Ltd (HMIL) announced that its first mass-market dedicated electric vehicle (EV) for India will be rolled out from its Sriperumbudur factory near Chennai this year, as the company has designated Tamil Nadu as its flagship EV manufacturing hub for the country.
HMIL's top management met Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay on Thursday. Tarun Garg, MD & CEO of HMIL, stated, "We will roll out two new models from the Chennai facility, including our first mass-market dedicated EV within this year, marking a significant step towards accelerating EV adoption and building a strong EV ecosystem."
New Launches and Market Strategy
Of the two new launches, the dedicated EV is a localized product in the compact SUV segment. It is expected to strengthen the company's EV presence as battery-powered vehicle adoption accelerates in India. The model is anticipated to launch ahead of the implementation of CAFE III emission norms. The second launch will be a mid-size SUV (above 4 meters) in the internal combustion engine (ICE) segment.
Infrastructure and Localization Efforts
HMIL has already established Tamil Nadu's first battery sub-assembly plant for EV powertrains and is localizing power electronics and other key components. The company has built an EV charging network in the state comprising 39 DC fast-charging stations with 78 charging points. It plans to expand coverage across major cities and highways over the next two to three years.
Alongside its EV push, Hyundai aims to increase localization levels across both EV and ICE vehicle operations from the current 82% to 90% over the next five to six years. The company will also increase sourcing from Tamil Nadu-based suppliers by approximately Rs 4,000 crore during this period, a move expected to generate about 2,000 additional jobs in the state.
Investment and Skill Development
HMIL reaffirmed its commitment to invest more than Rs 26,000 crore in Tamil Nadu by 2032 as part of its previously announced Rs 45,000-crore investment programme in India. The Tamil Nadu government and HMIL jointly announced an exclusive skill development collaboration aimed at enhancing the global employability of the state's youth. The initiative is expected to commence operations in December 2027.
