PT Hyundai Motors Indonesia (HMI) plans to continue expanding its electric vehicle portfolio in Indonesia. There are rumors that Hyundai will introduce a small electric SUV, the Hyundai Inster, to the Indonesian market.
This intention was confirmed by PT HMID’s Chief Operating Officer (COO) Fransiscus Soerjopranoto in a recent conversation with reporters. He mentioned that Hyundai remains open to introducing new electric vehicles to the Indonesian automotive market.
This includes the Hyundai Inster. The addition of the Hyundai Inster would certainly enhance Hyundai’s electric vehicle portfolio in Indonesia. Currently, Hyundai already has the Hyundai Ioniq 5, Hyundai Ioniq 6, Hyundai Ioniq 5 N, and Hyundai Kona Electric to dominate the electric vehicle market in Indonesia.
“We are studying the Inster. We can’t say yes, but we can’t say no either. There’s a possibility it will be brought to Indonesia, but it depends on the Indonesian market, whether there is demand or not,” Frans said.
“If we’re talking about a 7-seater or a 5-seater, we still have the capability to make that. We even showcased a mock-up or concept car of a 7-seater at IIMS. So, just wait and see. There’s a chance,” he added.
According to Frans, the chances of the Hyundai Inster entering Indonesia are quite high because it has already been built with a right-hand drive configuration. Therefore, only minimal adjustments would be needed if the decision is made to sell it in Indonesia.
“The Inster was only recently introduced. So, every global product that is introduced has the potential, especially since it’s right-hand drive. There’s a possibility it could be brought to Indonesia,” he explained.
Frans also assured that HMID will prioritize local assembly when bringing electric vehicles to Indonesia, as this will provide more benefits to consumers.
“If the volume is attractive, it would be better to do CKD (Completely Knocked Down assembly). That’s what we mean by studying. The Inster may not necessarily enter, but we are interested in bringing it in, depending on the market later,” Frans stated.
For your information, the Inster is built on the Hyundai Casper platform. This vehicle has compact dimensions, making it ideal for urban mobility.
The Hyundai Inster comes in two variants: Standard Range and Long Range. The two are distinguished by performance and range. The Standard Range variant features a 42 kWh battery with a single motor producing 95 hp and 147 Nm of torque, with a range of 300 km on a full charge.
Meanwhile, the Long Range variant is equipped with a 49 kWh battery with 113 hp and a range of 355 km. Both types support fast charging up to 120 kW, allowing the battery to charge from 10 percent to 80 percent in 30 minutes.
