Hyundai Motor Europe supports the European Union’s plan to introduce a new M1E vehicle category, which should enable the development of more affordable small electric cars. However, the company says that specific business decisions require precise details about which regulations will actually be eased.

The idea of ​​the M1E class is to simplify some of the technical and regulatory requirements for city cars to reduce production costs. Less mandatory equipment and technology should enable lower sales prices, which would make electric models more accessible to a wider range of buyers.

Hyundai’s European director, Xavier Martinet, rated the proposal as “interesting” but stressed that manufacturers should know exactly which norms are being changed. Issues of adapting safety requirements, technical specifications, or other segments of homologation are open, as well as how the new frame will differ between electric and classic drives.

The plan was positively commented on by other manufacturers such as Dacia, BYD, Peugeot, and Citroën, who see the potential for a new generation of entry-level electric models. All are still waiting for the final technical guidelines before confirming specific projects.

Martinet warned that the European market has been experiencing an increase in regulatory requirements for years, which directly increases vehicle prices. In his opinion, Europe is stricter in this regard than other large markets, which puts an additional burden on producers.

Hyundai is not yet revealing whether it will develop a particularly affordable city EV under the M1E rules, but it cites the success of the Hyundai Inster model, currently the brand’s most affordable electric model in Europe, as an example. The company believes that such cars already show that there is a demand for smaller and more rational electric vehicles, and the M1E could further expand that segment if the regulatory framework is clearly defined.

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