Staria, which was called a van from the future, is finally being reborn as an electric vehicle. Hyundai Motor Company plans to launch the Staria Electric Vehicle in February 2026 officially, and through this, it will fully enter the eco-friendly electric van market.
With a spacious space for up to 11 seats, a driving range of over 300 km (186 miles) based on an 84kWh battery, and fast charging technology, Staria EV is expected to attract attention as an All-in-One Electric Van that can encompass not only a family car but also mobility services and last-mile delivery. In particular, with the Hyundai Motor Group’s electrified PBV strategy being fully implemented, including the recently unveiled Kia PV5, consumer choices are expected to become even more abundant.
Hyundai’s Staria, which was evaluated as a van from the future since its debut in 2021, is finally returning as a real electric vehicle. The electric version of Staria, which has been raising expectations through various test vehicles and leaked photos recently, is scheduled to enter full-scale mass production in February 2026 under the project name US4 EV. Production will take place at the Ulsan plant in South Korea, and it is known that construction of a dedicated production line for this purpose has already begun.
Staria EV Battery Specs: 84 kWh NCM Pack, 300+ km (186 miles) Range
In the case of the Staria electric vehicle, the 4th generation ternary (MCN) battery is installed, and the capacity is known to be 84kWh. The driving distance on a single charge is known to be in the mid to late 300 km (186 miles) range, and a long-range model that uses a large-capacity battery of over 110kWh, which is used in the Ioniq series, is also being considered. This is aimed at a driving distance of over 400 km (249 miles), and seems to be a measure to respond to various B2B demands such as car calling, delivery, and last mile.
Based on the test vehicles previously captured in Europe and the information from the ST1 box van and Lveco Moody model based on the Staria, the expected powertrain is likely to be centered around a 215 horsepower (160kW) Dyn electric motor with a maximum torque of 350Nm. In addition, an 800V ultra-fast charging system (including V2L) is also likely to be installed.
A Key Model for Conquering the PBV Market
The Staria electric vehicle scheduled to be released in the future is expected to be more than just an expansion of the powertrain, but also in line with the full-scale launch of the Hyundai Motor Group’s PBV (Purpose Built Vehicle) strategy. In particular, since Staria has a spacious space that can accommodate up to 11 people, it is expected to actively target B2B demand, such as car sharing, mobility services, and delivery, as well as general consumers (B2C).
Meanwhile, Kia is making a concerted effort to dominate the PBV market as a whole, such as unveiling the PV5, a dedicated PBV model scheduled for release in the second half of this year, at the 2025 Seoul Mobility Show. The PV5 is targeting the logistics-based B2B market through supply contracts with Uber and DHL, while the Staria electric vehicle is structured to focus on passenger transport.
The Competing Models of the Staria EV
The Staria electric vehicle is expected to compete fiercely with numerous competing vehicles in the global market, and its representative competing models are the Master E-Tech, Mercedes-Benz eVito, and Ford E-Transit. These models have already secured a certain share of the European commercial electric van market, and are responding to customer needs with practical driving ranges of 300-400 km (186-249 miles) and various body options.
However, Staria is expected to secure competitiveness with a more futuristic design, various powertrain flexibility, and differentiated technologies such as Hyundai’s unique V2L function, OTA updates, and high-speed charging.
Hyundai’s EV Expansion Strategy
The introduction of the Staria EV is an example that shows that Hyundai is expanding its EV strategy beyond the passenger vehicle sector to all areas of mobility. Hyundai, which has accumulated technological prowess through the iONIQ series, plans to accelerate its transformation into an Eco-friendly + Mobility Solution company by fully deploying electrified models in the large passenger vehicle and van markets through Staria.
As a result, Hyundai’s Staria is introducing a new change based on an electric vehicle model, which is expected to serve as a bridgehead for Hyundai’s future transportation strategy, going beyond simply adding a motor to an existing model. The day when the modifier van from the future will be completed with a true meaning that includes not only the appearance but also the powertrain, technology, and usability is not far off.
