Hyundai Motor Company has unveiled the ‘Inster’, a new sub-compact electric vehicle at the Busan International Mobility Show 2024. 

Exterior

Built on the ‘Casper’, a Korea-specific, petrol sub-compact SUV introduced in 2021, the Inster’s design gets an extended body and wheelbase. With the expanded dimensions, the Inster is positioned between traditional A-segment sub-compact city cars and larger B-segment compact models.

The exterior design is characterised by smooth, rounded edges, bulged fenders, a circuit board-style bumper and a skid plate at the front and rear.

The Inster’s gets LED daytime running light signature and pixel-graphic turn signals, tail lamp and bumpers. LED projection headlamps and a two-tone exterior with a blacked-out roof are also offered on some variants. The Inster gets 15-inch steel wheels with wheel covers, 15-inch alloy wheels or 17-inch alloy wheels depending on the variant.

Exterior colour choices include Atlas White, Tomboy Khaki, Bijarim Khaki Matte and Unbleached Ivory, as well as several new paint-jobs, such as Sienna Orange Metallic, Aero Silver Matte, Dusk Blue Matte, Buttercream Yellow Pearl, and Abyss Black Pearl. Some exterior colour choices will be available in two-tone combinations with a contrasting black roof. The paint of the Inster, Hyundai claims, is sustainable featuring black high-gloss recycled paint, which replaces the carbon black pigment traditionally used in black paint with a colouring made from recycled waste tires.

Interior

On the inside, the Inster features a 10.25-inch digital cluster, a 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen with navigation and a wireless charging dock as a part of the centre console. The pixel theme is repeated inside, also featuring customisable upper door trim garnishes for owners to further personalise the vehicle.

The Inster’s front row seating provides walk-through access and all seats can be folded flat – including the driver’s seat – for increased flexibility. A front bench seat option and heated front seats and steering wheel are also available. The second-row seats are slidable, can recline and also split 50-50. 

Interior trim choices include Black, and Khaki Brown and Newtro Beige two-tone with full cloth trim. According to Hyundai, the interior of the Inster also uses sustainable materials like recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET) from bottles and bio-polypropylene material extracted from sugarcane are used inside.

Hyundai says that the Inster will launch first in Korea this summer, followed by Europe, the Middle East and Asia Pacific in due course. Most equipment and technologies will come fitted as standard with extra convenience and design features available as options. The exact specifications is set to be confirmed closer to the launch. Hyundai has also planned an additional variant in the future called ‘Inster Cross’ featuring a more rugged, outdoor-focused design.

"With Inster, we've taken the small SUV image to a bold new place for the global audience," said Simon Loasby, Senior Vice-President and Head of the Hyundai Design Center. "Inster punches well above its weight with distinctive design and an interior that maximises its potential in exciting, customer-centric ways. With Inster we're redefining what it means to drive a sub-compact EV," added Simon.

Performance and Range

The Inster EV is equipped with a 42 kWh battery as standard, and is also available with a long-range 49 kWh battery as an option. Both models are powered by a single motor that delivers 71.1 kW (97 PS) in the base variant and 84.5 kW (115 PS) in the long-range model. Both versions offer 147 Nm of torque.

With a claimed range of 355km on a single charge for the long-range model, the Inster requires an estimated energy consumption of 15.3 kWh/100 km. (Both figures are for the 15-inch wheels) The standard range model gets a claimed range of more than 300km.

The sub-compact EV can charge from 10 to 80 percent in around 30 minutes under optimal conditions when using a 120 kW DC high-power charging station. It also comes equipped with an 11 kW on-board charger as standard, while a battery heating system and high-efficiency heat pump are available.

External and internal Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) functionality provides power for external devices (110V/220V), allowing bi-directional charging without requiring additional equipment. This enables customers to freely use or charge devices such as electric bicycles, scooters and camping equipment.

Specifications and Features

*Specifications are based on European-model Hyundai Inster. Features, technology and claimed figures may differ depending on the market.

Ergon Labs, a start-up working on electric vehicle powertrain technologies has inked a strategic partnership with Delhi-NCR-based EV maker Omega Seiki to supply its cutting-edge Integrated Power Converter (IPC), which combines an on-board charger and motor controller into a single unit.

As per the understanding, Omega Seiki has placed an order worth INR 500 million to Ergon Labs for supply of IPC in its L5 electric three-wheelers. The partnership also includes a strategic investment by Uday Narang, Founder and Chairman, Omega Seiki, who will join the Ergon Labs' Advisory Board.

Ergon’s IPC is claimed to offer 30 percent (17 degrees) gradeability, with peak torque operation extended from the industry-standard 1 minute to 3-5 minutes.

Around 50 percent faster charging, which allows the EV to get a range of over 50 km in under an hour using any standard 15A socket. Upto 30 percent lower system cost compared to conventional separate on-board chargers and motor controllers. This leads to significant reduction in wiring harness complexity.

The partners have announced that the first commercial deployment of 2,000 units is planned across India in FY26, starting with the L5 Passenger segment — a rapidly growing market fuelled by aggregators like Rapido, Ola and Uber, and increasing adoption in metro cities and regional centres.

They are also jointly developing a high-performance L5 Cargo electric vehicle capable of handling over 500 kg payload with 30 percent gradeability, targeting diesel vehicle replacement in markets such as Kerala and the North East.

Ashwin Ramanujam, CEO, Ergon Labs, said, “This partnership with Omega Seiki is a pivotal milestone in Ergon’s mission to bring breakthrough innovations in light EV powertrains to market. OSM’s vehicles will see meaningful improvements in gradeability, payload capacity and charging reliability – all enabled by deep component integration at both hardware and software levels. This moment represents the culmination of three years of relentless product development by our engineering team. More importantly, it sets the stage for our next major innovation: one-hour home charging for two-wheelers, launching in 2026.”

Uday Narang, added, “After over three decades of bold investments across global financial markets, I returned to India with a mission to drive environmental and economic impact through engineering-led innovation. Omega Seiki was born out of that vision. My investment in Ergon is a continuation of this commitment. From my first conversation with Ashwin to witnessing their technology’s performance first-hand, it was clear that Ergon brings world-class engineering to India’s EV ecosystem. I’m excited to partner with this exceptional team and bring their breakthrough product to market.”

European auto major Stellantis aims to introduce a new set of electric vehicles developed with its Chinese partner – Leapmotor, in India by end-2025, according to a Reuters report.

The revelation was made by Tianshu Xin, head of China operations for Stellantis and CEO of its joint venture, Leapmotor International on the sidelines of Auto Shanghai 2025. He said, “With the size of the automotive market, India certainly has a lot of potential as well. We're accelerating entering into the Indian market.”

The report further stated that Xin acknowledged the fact that while India was a potentially huge market for Leapmotors, but it would be difficult to make a profit in the country.

At present, Stellantis operates a manufacturing facility in Hosur, Tamil Nadu, where it produces gearboxes and engines. It has also set up a software and technology centre in Bengaluru to support its domestic and global products. It currently sells the Jeep and Citroen vehicles in India.

On the other hand, Leapmotor has a portfolio of models across mini hatchback, sedan saloon and SUVs.

Following up to media reports, Stellantis India has confirmed the development. 

Shailesh Hazela, CEO & Managing Director, Stellantis India, said, "We’re excited to announce the entry of Leapmotor brand in India, thereby strengthening our commitment to the market. We already have a strong presence in India with our Jeep and Citroën brands, and we deeply understand the strategic importance and immense potential that the Indian market holds. Globally, Leapmotor is redefining electric mobility with a strong focus on innovation, quality, and customer satisfaction. We look forward to bringing premium EVs to India's upwardly mobile consumers—vehicles that redefine modern driving with cutting-edge technology, comfort, and sustainability."

Charge Zone, a leading electric vehicle charging company, has announced that it has attained a major milestone by expanding its network to over 13,500 charging stations. This, the company claims, makes it the largest EV charging platform in the country.

It attributed the growth to its strategic OCPI-based roaming partnerships with leading EV infrastructure players, including Statiq, Bolt, Kazam, Pulse Energy, Chargemod, ElectreeFi, Evnnovator and others. These partnerships have allowed the company to offer a unified, interoperable EV charging ecosystem for its customers.

Kartikey Hariyani, Founder & CEO, Charge Zone. “At Charge Zone, our vision has always been to build more than just a network – we’re creating the digital backbone of India’s EV ecosystem. Reaching 13,500 charging stations is a defining moment, not just in terms of scale, but in what it represents: a truly interoperable and tech-driven infrastructure that simplifies the EV experience for everyone. Whether you're an individual commuter or a fleet operator, our goal is to make charging as seamless, reliable, and accessible as possible. Through collaborative partnerships and deep tech integration, we’re laying the foundation for a clean mobility future that’s connected, intelligent, and built for the next generation of transportation in India.”

Currently, the Charge Zone network sees over 8,000 daily users, with its mobile app seeing over 250,000 downloads. The company shared stated that almost 70 percent of India’s EV customers have used Charge Zone app at least once in their EV journey.

At present, the company’s EV charging network includes 3.3kW, 7.4kW and 10kW charging options for city use, DC fast chargers ranging from 30kW to ultra-fast 360kW for faster charging speeds.

The world of e-mobility in India is constantly witnessing newer players, one of which is Ryoto Electrix. With scooters manufactured in Greater Noida, this company has ventured into the production of ‘Made in India’ electric vehicles, deriving capital infusion from VKL-JVK Group. Ryoto Electix’s products, showcased at the recent Ride Asia EV Expo in Bharat Mandapam, cater to the requirements of both rural and urban customers.

The word ‘Ryoto’ is being used as it denotes a dragon-like person in the Japanese language. It is used to symbolise power, strength, courage, and good fortune, all of which help drive the company. Over a period of 5 years, Ryoto has developed stylish and colourful iCAT-approved electric scooters that can be customised as per the needs of e-conscious riders wanting innovation and efficiency.

Sandeep Ralhan, CEO, Ryoto Electrix, said, “Quality is one of the main driving forces for our products. We are offering low-speed vehicles and have tied up with GoDogit to provide insurance on every vehicle.”. Further, he added that EMI’s are available for all the scooters, to be paid over a period of 18 months.

Among the company’s models, Giga is a popular one that looks similar to the popular Honda Activa. While Fowler is a Double Light model, Bright is available with a Single Light. Two-wheeler dealers have the option to choose between exclusive CKD Container deals and bulk deals.

With regards to future plans, Sandeep Ralhan talked about the plan to come up with a company-owned charging station under the name Volt. Apart from expanding the dealership network, he expressed excitement towards the launch of high-speed vehicles in the next 2 months. Ryoto has appointed 80 dealerships across Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Delhi NCR, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, and Haryana.