Hyundai Motor Co. (parent company of Hyundai Motor India Ltd.) has forayed into designing India-specific micro-mobility solutions. Together with Indian two and three-wheeler manufacturer TVS Motor Co., the Korean automaker unveiled two all-new Micro Mobility Concept EVs at the ongoing Bharat Mobility Auto Expo in new Delhi.
The E4W and E3W share the same design philosophy but differ in one key area: wheels. One is a four-wheeled micro car while the other is Hyundai’s take on the humble autorickshaw, which is the mainstay of public transportation for a majority of Indians. Both the vehicles look like something out of a sci-fi flick with their minimalist and angular design and hollow door frames.
Like an autorickshaw, the E3W’s driver area is open from the sides with doorframes for the rear passengers only. Extendable ground clearance, an angled windshield for better visibility, enhanced collision protection, and a flat floor and long wheelbase to maximize space are some notable features of these concepts.
Hyundai Motor Co. is currently in talks with TVS Motor Co. for jointly bringing vehicles like these to the market, with the three-wheeler already proposed to be built and the four-wheeler still under consideration. It is being put forth that Hyundai Motor Co. will take care of the design, development and technological side of things while TVS Motor Co. will be responsible for manufacturing and distributing the vehicles. TVS Motor Co. already builds and sells passenger and cargo ICE three-wheelers. This Indo-Korean collaboration has the potential to transform the public transport landscape of India and will also be a major boost for last-mile connectivity in the subcontinent.
