[ THE INVESTOR ] South Korea’s largest automaker Hyundai Motor is testing its first electric sport utility vehicle on the roads, with plans to launch by 2018, according to local media ETNews.



Hyundai’s upcoming SUV test mule was spotted at a parking lot in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, while the car was being charged.





Screen capture from ETNews





Under the project name “OS Electric Vehicle,” the new SUV boasts an estimated 320-kilometers driving range on a single charge, nearly double the mileage of the automaker’s current EV offering of Ioniq sedan, which runs 180 kilometers. The car will be equipped with 64 kilowatt-hour battery pack to deliver a longer mileage.



“We are developing electric SUV with plans to launch in the first half of next year,” a Hyundai Motor official said. “However, we cannot disclose the name and the specifications of the vehicle.”



Hyundai’s smaller affiliate Kia Motors is also planning to introduce the EV version of its Niro SUV next year, expected to heat up the competition in the fast-growing SUV segment.



By Ahn Sung-mi (sahn@heraldcorp.com)