South Korean legacy automaker Hyundai plans to launch its electric mini SUV, Casper, in the European market by the end of the year. According to Automotive News Europe, the Hyundai Casper will have a base price of about €20,000 before government incentives.
It is worth noting that the Hyundai already sells the Casper as an internal combustion engine-powered model in its home market. It will undergo a major exterior redesign before it arrives as a battery-electric vehicle.
Casper EV to hit the French market
Hyundai France Head Lionel French Keogh officially announced the South Korean brand’s plans to bring the Casper electric mini SUV to the country by the end of the year.
According to the report, Hyundai plans to manufacture the Casper EV in its Gwangju factory in South Korea alongside its ICE counterpart. However, only the all-electric variant will be available for sale in Europe.
Production of the all-electric variant will commence on July 1, 2024.
What’s currently known about the Hyundai Casper EV?
The Hyundai Casper EV is expected to enable a driving range close to France’s best-selling Dacia Spring of about 200 km (125 miles)-300 km (187 miles). It will apparently feature a lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery. Therefore, we cannot expect a very long range from this electric mini SUV, considering the low energy density of LFP batteries.
The Casper’s ICE variant reportedly has a length of 3.60 meters (about 11.8 feet). However, recent spy shots from its Swedish test drives revealed that the electric variant is longer than the Korean version by around 200 mm (8 inches)-250 mm (10 inches).
Pricing
The new model is expected to cost approximately €20,000 or about $21,500, with government subsidies potentially lowering that price to sub-€18,000.
If the Hyundai Casper EV actually benefits from France’s subsidies, it can overthrow the Chinese-made Dacia Spring, which costs about €20,800.
Hyundai’s Casper EV will compete with numerous small and affordable electric models in Europe, such as Renault Twingo, Citroën’s ë-C3, and other upcoming models from China’s BYD, among others. Hyundai plans to start producing the new Casper EV on July 2024.
