Various countries offer tax incentives based on vehicle size, such as India, for vehicles under four meters (157.5 inches) long and South Korea, for cars shorter than 3.6 m (141.7 inches) and narrower than 1.6 m (63 inches). Also available in the UK and European markets, the Hyundai Inster electric crossover falls in this class, and Hyundai has just registered a trademark for the name Insteroid with the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), suggesting Hyundai has big plans for its microcars.
Hyundai’s Involvement in the “Light Car” Class
Hyundai used to sell an extra-small subcompact hatchback of this size called the Atos in its home market and others, including India, the Philippines, and South Africa. In Mexico, it was branded as a Dodge. In 2021, it re-entered this market with the crossover-style Casper, powered by naturally aspirated and turbocharged 1.0-liter three-cylinder engines, soon followed by a slightly larger electric version of the car called the Casper Electric – or the Inster in Europe. It comes with a 49-kWh battery and a 95-hp electric motor.
Growing the Family
The Insteroid name suggests that Hyundai is planning a variation on the Inster theme to expand the model range, and it’s fair to assume that the Insteroid will also be electric. Small crossovers are more popular than small hatchbacks, and the Inster is already a crossover. Hyundai could change up the format in various ways for the Insteroid, such as increasing its size, even though this might mean it will push the car into the next size class.
Weighing Up The Possibilities
More likely, the automaker is planning the more grown-up version to take advantage of the European market where this size limit doesn’t apply, and which prefers slightly larger cars in general. If it remains under 157.5 inches, India will also be a ready market. “Insteroid” evokes various images, relating to an Inster on steroids, perhaps, or more along the lines of an android, where it hints at a tech-forward, fashionable city runabout. Given the tiny footprint of the Inster, the Insteroid is likely to be larger, possibly with a bigger battery and more range.
