The fully electric version of the Staria people carrier from Hyundai will reach the market in 2026

Hyundai is preparing a fully electric version of its Staria people carrier, with the aim of starting sales in 2026. Although initially all the rumours pointed to the South Korean manufacturer opting to use a hydrogen fuel cell in this model, in the end this will not be the case, and its propulsion system will be fully electric with a high-capacity battery pack. A decision that, apparently, is motivated by the company’s need to comply with the increasingly strict environmental regulations established in the European market.

The Staria people carrier, recognised for its futuristic exterior design, is currently available with petrol, diesel or LPG engines. As we have already mentioned, Hyundai will however expand the available versions by adding a fully electric one, in order to meet the needs of different types of customer.

Currently, Hyundai manufactures its Staria people carrier at Plant Number 4 in Ulsan, South Korea. However, according to the latest reports, the electric version will be produced in Europe, most likely at the Nosovice plant in the Czech Republic, where Hyundai already manufactures the Kona Electric for the European market. Although this has not yet been officially confirmed.

What range can we expect from the electric Staria people carrier?

As regards the battery pack this new model will use, everything suggests that the South Korean manufacturer will opt for the same fourth-generation unit already found in the IONIQ 5 N presented in 2023. It is an 84 kWh NCM lithium-ion battery pack, which will allow the Staria to travel up to 324 km under the homologation cycle established by South Korea’s Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE).

It is important to note, however, that the range under the WLTP homologation cycle in force in Europe tends to be considerably higher than that established by this South Korean body. Thus, for example, while the official range of the Hyundai IONIQ 5 N according to MOTIE is 351 km, its WLTP range is 448 km. Therefore, we can expect the WLTP range of the electric Staria to exceed 400 km. In addition, thanks to its 800-volt architecture, it will be possible to increase the charge from 10 to 80 per cent in just 20 minutes. On the other hand, we also know that the electric Staria people carrier will have a single 160 kW motor integrated into the front axle.

The electric Staria will be aimed mainly at the European market, since Hyundai believes that sales of electric vans in Europe will rise considerably once the new Euro 7 emissions regulations come into force. Series production of this electric people carrier is scheduled to begin in June 2026. In addition, the South Korean manufacturer also plans to launch the Staria in Australia and Thailand, with the aim of reaching annual sales of between 15,000 and 20,000 units in these markets.

Finally, it should be noted that practically a year before the electric Staria reaches the market, a new hybrid version will be available. That is, towards the end of 2025.

Technical specifications of this car

MinivanHyundai Staria3 versions · from 55,490 €