Hyundai reveals new 7-seat electric minivan concept

This is car news, not a home energy story, but here's what it covers for anyone curious about electric vehicles.

Hyundai showed off a new electric minivan concept called the Neira at an auto show in Indonesia. It seats seven and is nearly identical under the skin to the Kia Carens Clavis EV, an electric minivan already sold in India, with just a few styling differences in the front and rear design, headlights, and wheels. Hyundai plans to build it locally in Indonesia starting by the end of 2026.

Expected battery options, based on the similar Kia model, are 42 kWh and 51.4 kWh packs. The smaller one is expected to offer up to 251 miles of range, the larger one up to 304 miles. Both would be able to charge from 10% to 80% in about 39 minutes on a fast charger.

None of this applies to US driveways, though. Hyundai says the Neira is built for Indonesian families, and import tariffs make it too expensive to bring to markets like the US or even India. If you want a seven-seat electric Hyundai in the US, the closest thing is the IONIQ 9, which is already sold here and built at Hyundai's Georgia plant. Hyundai also sells a different electric minivan, the Staria Electric, in Europe and South Korea, but that one isn't available in the US either.