Hyundai Ioniq P Name Trademarked, To Likely Be Used For Upcoming Small EV

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The India-developed Hyundai compact electric SUV could utilise the Ioniq P name ahead of its expected debut soon

Hyundai has confirmed plans for a compact electric SUV developed specifically for India and its production name could now be taking shape. At a recent earnings call, Hyundai management mentioned the Ioniq P for the Indian market and the company has now filed a trademark application for the name under Class 12 which relates to automobiles and associated components. However, Hyundai has not formally identified the upcoming HE1i project as Ioniq P just yet.

The forthcoming electric SUV will sit below the Creta Electric and is expected to become the least expensive electric car in the Hyundai India portfolio. The model will compete against the Tata Nexon EV, Mahindra XUV 3XO EV and Kia Syros EV amongst others. The HE1i has been developed as a standalone electric vehicle instead of an electric derivative of any existing ICE offering from the brand.

The camouflaged test vehicles reveal an upright front fascia, a nearly flat roof and squared-off body proportions. The front features slim LED daytime running lamps positioned above the main headlamp units. The side profile shows prominent roof rails, short overhangs and dual-tone alloy wheels. The tall cabin and relatively straight roofline distinguish the SUV from the more rounded Creta Electric.

The electric SUV is slated for production at the Hyundai factory in Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu. Initial vehicles will use imported battery cells sourced from Svolt after delays at the domestic cell manufacturing facility of Exide Industries. Hyundai plans to source locally manufactured cells from Exide at a later stage but prices are expected to be competitive right from the get-go.

The manufacturer has already confirmed next generation infotainment system and Level 2 driver assistance for the India-specific electric SUV as both technologies were announced at the 2026 CEO Investor Day. Hyundai has also invested in local development and component sourcing for the project which is intended to serve the domestic compact electric SUV segment as well as possible international markets.

It is no secret that the HE1i will use the E-GMP (K) architecture which also employed by the Hyundai Inster sold internationally. Two battery configurations are expected consisting of standard range and long range options. The overseas Inster uses 42 kWh and 49 kWh batteries and we expect the Ioniq P to share at least one battery with the recently introduced Syros EV.

The new electric SUV is scheduled to debut next month and its prices will be announced soon after. The company expects electric vehicles to contribute more than 7 per cent of its domestic sales within the next year compared to 1 per cent in FY26. The HE1i will be Hyundai’s first locally developed electric SUV in the compact mass market category going after high volume sales.

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