Hyundai to launch all-electric Staria in 2026

The Staria may have a futuristic exterior, but it isn’t nearly as advanced when it comes to the propulsion system, still using petrol, diesel, or LPG. According to a new report from The Korea Economic Daily, Hyundai will fix that with the introduction of a pure electric powertrain option in 2026. The company is developing the Staria EV to meet Europe’s tightening environmental regulations.

Hyundai builds the Staria at Ulsan Plant No. 4 in South Korea. However, according to the Korea Economic Daily, the electric Staria will be produced in Europe. The only possible plant in Nosovice, Czech Republic, where Hyundai builds the Kona Electric for Europe. However, that is not confirmed.

However, there is information about the model’s battery: according to the report, Hyundai plans to equip the Staria EV with its fourth-generation battery pack, which it first installed in the Ioniq 5 N in 2023. This will be an 84 kWh lithium-ion NCM unit, delivering a range of up to 324 km, presumably as per the testing method of South Korea’s Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE).

Range per Europe’s WLTP tends to be much higher than that from MOTIE. For example, while the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N’s official range as per MOTIE is 351 km, its WLTP range is 448 km. Thus, the WLTP range of the Hyundai Staria EV will likely be higher, possibly over 400 km. Thanks to a high operating voltage of 800 volts, a 10-80% charging session will take as little as 20 minutes. Powering the potential VW ID. Buzz rival will be a 160 kW motor, mounted on the front axle, the Korean version of the report states.

As mentioned above, the electric van is destined for European markets. According to the article, Hyundai expects that sales of electric vans in Europe will rise, once the European Union has implemented the Euro 7 emission standards.

Series production of the Hyundai Staria EV for Europe will start by June 2026. Hyundai plans to launch the Staria EV in Australia and Thailand as well. The company aims for an annual sales target of 15,000-20,000 units for the upcoming electric MPV. Hyundai is in a hurry to release the Staria EV, as the recently launched ST1 pure electric purpose-built vehicle is proving costlier to manufacture than initially expected.

In addition to a Hyundai Staria EV, a Hyundai Staria Hybrid is on the cards, as per the report. The semi-electrified model will arrive slightly earlier, at the end of 2025. However, there’s still no update on the arrival of the Hyundai Staria Fuel Cell, confirmed for launch back in April 2021.

kedglobal.com, hankyung.com (in Korean)