Hyundai unable to confirm if Casper EV will be available here

Reports suggest a cheap Hyundai Casper mini-SUV electric vehicle will be offered to the European market from later this year priced around 20,000 euros (NZ$35,145).

But Hyundai New Zealand says that at this stage it cannot confirm whether the Casper will be made available to the New Zealand market.

It’s already produced in South Korea with an internal combustion engine (ICE) and will be adapted for the European market, becoming electric with a lithium iron phosphate battery providing about 250km range, says one report which expects the Casper to rival the Spring from Dacia, which it says is Europe’s best selling EV.

About 3.80 metres long, the Casper is not expected to offer much power but should work well for a light and small urban car, the report says.

Hyundai may start production in July, with a debut planned for the third quarter of this year, says Automotive News Europe.

Another report ponders whether the “tiny $30,000 2024 Hyundai Casper electric SUV” will challenge the BYD Dolphin and MG4 in Australia.

It reckons there’s space for four adults and that the Casper will have to meet EuroNCAP safety requirements.

Meanwhile, new Hyundai EV utes expected to debut within two years may be called the Ioniq T10 and Ioniq T7, says CarScoops, also referring to a Drive.com.au report which suggests the names may come from a recent trademark application lodged in Australia and that the primary market may be the US.