Hyundai and TVS Electric Three-Wheeler Targets Late-2027 Launch — 4,000 a Month

A Quiet Bet on India's Electric Three-Wheeler Boom

Hyundai Motor Company and TVS Motor Company are working to launch a jointly developed electric three-wheeler in late 2027 or early 2028, according to information reviewed by Autocar Professional. The vehicle, internally codenamed U834, would be manufactured at TVS's Hosur facility in Tamil Nadu, with India as the first market and exports to follow.

The programme is not small. Two versions are planned with combined production of around 3,000 to 4,000 units a month — an annualised capacity of 36,000 to 48,000 units once output reaches plan. An initial prototype build is scheduled for early 2027, with production starting towards the end of the year.

Who Does What

Hyundai is leading the design, and the vehicle is being co-engineered with TVS. The Indian partner is expected to handle manufacturing, the supply chain, marketing, sales and service — a sensible split that leans on TVS's distribution reach and Hyundai's design resources.

The two firms signed a joint development agreement in April 2026, following the unveiling of the E3W concept at the Bharat Mobility Global Expo in January 2025. That concept showcased features tuned to Indian operating conditions, including adjustable ground clearance, thermal management for tropical climates and flexible interiors for passenger, cargo and emergency use. It, along with a four-wheeler E4W sibling, won Gold in the Concepts and Speculative Design category at the 2026 International Design Excellence Awards. The award recognised the concepts, not the production vehicle.

Why Three-Wheelers, and Why Electric

India's three-wheeler market is already the country's most electrified vehicle segment, with electric models making up a large majority of new sales. It is also a segment where Hyundai has little presence, making a partnership the fastest route in. For TVS, the deal adds a co-developed product to an electric business that is growing quickly.

Specifications, pricing and branding have not been announced. Those details will decide how the two planned versions are positioned against established players. Track how the electric segment is moving on our sales data page, and compare running costs with our EV calculator.

(Sources: Autocar Professional, 8 October 2026; Hyundai and TVS joint development agreement. Images: Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.)