Hyundai confirms sub-£20k electric car for 2024

An all-electric version of Hyundai’s diminutive Casper EV will definitely go on sale in Europe later this year, according to Michael Cole, President and CEO of Hyundai Motor Europe. 

Speaking at the Financial Times Future of the Car Summit, Cole confirmed that Hyundai would be launching an entry-level EV “this year”.

Electrifying expects that the baby EV city car will get a sub-£20,000 price tag when it arrives later this year, although it’s likely to get a new name when it gets to the UK and won’t be called Casper. It’s not expected to take an Ioniq name and number either, as has been previously reported. 

The sub-£20,000 price will put the new Hyundai EV in direct competition with the new Citroen e-C3 and posher versions of the Dacia Spring with its £14,995 starting price. 

And like those cars, the new Hyundai EV will get an upright SUV-style body, and is likely to mix some of the current Hyundai design themes - like a full-width LED light bar - with some of the cuter Casper features like the over-sized circular headlights and high-set rear lights. 

There’s no word yet on the powertrain for the Hyundai EV, but it could take the platform and tech from the Kia Ray city car, which gets a 35kWh battery giving a range of close to 130 miles and with a single front axle-mounted electric motor with around 85bhp. 

Hyundai Europe boss Michael Cole had previously told Electrifying of the importance of smaller affordable cars as part of Hyundai’s model line-up with the i10 and i20 still accounting for a good share of the brand’s sales in the UK. 

The Casper name is unlikely to be used in the UK due to friendly ghost associations