Hyundai is preparing to pull the wraps off what it is calling its biggest electric vehicle yet, a model that will debut in Brussels and signal how aggressively the brand now wants to scale up its battery-powered lineup. The company has only released a shadowy teaser, but between its own hints and a growing body of reporting, there are already strong clues about what this giant EV is, how big it will be, and why it matters for both families and fleets.
From the shape of the silhouette to the timing alongside the Hyundai IONIQ 9, the evidence points to a people mover that stretches Hyundai’s electric ambitions into true van territory rather than just another SUV. I see a strategic play aimed at Europe and beyond, where a cavernous multi‑purpose vehicle could serve as both a halo product and a practical workhorse for the brand’s next phase of electrification.
The teaser that started the guessing game
Hyundai has framed the upcoming model as “its biggest EV yet,” a phrase that immediately sets expectations higher than even its large three‑row SUVs. The company plans to unveil the vehicle at the Brussels motor show, and the teaser image shows a tall, upright profile with a long roofline that clearly signals a focus on maximum interior volume rather than coupe‑like style. That positioning alone tells me Hyundai is not just upsizing an existing crossover, but trying to carve out a new electric niche for people hauling and commercial use.
Reporting on the teaser notes that Hyundai is gearing up for the Brussels debut with language that emphasizes both size and versatility, describing the newcomer as a multi‑purpose vehicle that will sit above the rest of its electric range in footprint and cabin space, which aligns with the shadowy outline in the official image shared by Hyundai. The fact that the company is highlighting this model as a headline act in Brussels, rather than quietly adding it to a regional lineup, underlines how central it expects this “biggest EV” to be in its European strategy.
Why Brussels, and why now?
Choosing Brussels as the launch venue is not just a matter of calendar convenience, it is a signal about where Hyundai expects this vehicle to resonate first. Europe has long been a stronghold for practical vans and multi‑purpose vehicles, and positioning the reveal in the Belgian capital allows Hyundai to speak directly to European buyers who are already familiar with tall, boxy people movers. By promising its largest electric model at this show, Hyundai is effectively telling the region that it is ready to compete in one of its most space‑sensitive segments.
Analysts following the teaser have pointed out that Hyundai is using the Brussels debut to underscore its electric focus in Europe, tying the new model to a broader push that includes advanced battery systems and larger family‑oriented EVs, as highlighted in coverage of Hyundai’s plan to go big on EVs with its largest model yet and advanced 800-volt battery technology. Launching this vehicle now, as European cities tighten emissions rules and fleets look to electrify, positions Hyundai to capture demand from both private buyers and operators who need maximum space without tailpipe emissions.
The IONIQ 9 benchmark: Hyundai’s current flagship
To understand what “biggest” means in Hyundai’s electric vocabulary, it helps to look at the Hyundai IONIQ 9, the brand’s new flagship three‑row SUV. The Hyundai IONIQ 9 is described as a spacious, safe and innovative family hauler, an all‑new EV that stretches past five meters in length and is designed to carry three rows of passengers in comfort. Dealer previews describe the Hyundai IONIQ 9 as the brand’s new flagship three‑row SUV and note that the official Hyundai IONIQ 9 Release Date Overview of an All New EV suggests a launch cadence that cements it as the top of the regular SUV range.
Earlier walkarounds of the 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 9 in California, filmed just ahead of a major Auto Show, show a long, upright body with a generous wheelbase and a cabin clearly optimized for three rows of adults, reinforcing its role as a full‑size electric SUV rather than a compact crossover. In that first look, the presenter notes that they are in California on a beautiful day, just a couple of weeks out from the LA Auto Show, while walking around the 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 9 in a video that gives a sense of its scale and presence, as seen in the California Auto Show preview. When Hyundai now says its Brussels debut will be even larger than this already imposing SUV, it sets a very high bar for the new model’s footprint.
Clue one: a people mover bigger than Ioniq 9
The most telling clue about the mystery EV is that it is expected to be larger than the Ioniq 9, which already stretches beyond five meters. Reporting on the teaser notes that the upcoming people mover will be even bigger than the Ioniq 9, with references to a length of 5.25 meters, or 206.9 inches, figures that push it firmly into van territory rather than traditional SUV proportions. That kind of size suggests a vehicle designed to carry more passengers than a typical three‑row, or to offer a cavernous cargo area for shuttle and commercial use.
One analysis spells this out clearly, stating that the new people mover will be even bigger than the Ioniq 9, measuring 5.25 meters (206.9 inches) in length, and that this extra size will come from a body style derived from Hyundai’s futuristic‑looking Staria minivan, as detailed in coverage of how it will be even bigger than the 5.25 meters, 206.9 long Ioniq benchmark. If those dimensions hold, Hyundai’s biggest EV will not just edge out the Ioniq 9, it will redefine the upper limit of the brand’s electric passenger vehicles.
Clue two: the Staria connection
Another strong hint is the repeated suggestion that the new EV is closely related to the Staria, Hyundai’s existing minivan with a distinctive, futuristic design. The teaser’s silhouette, with its long, continuous roofline and upright tail, looks far more like a van than an SUV, and several reports argue that Hyundai is essentially electrifying the Staria formula for Europe. That would allow the company to leverage an established body style while dropping in a modern electric powertrain and updated interior tech.
One detailed breakdown notes that Hyundai will debut a new model in Brussels and that its “biggest EV yet” is likely based on the futuristic‑looking Staria minivan, a conclusion drawn from the proportions and design cues visible in the teaser, as explained in analysis by Thanos Pappas. Another report goes further, stating that Hyundai hints at its biggest European EV yet, possibly an electric Staria, and notes that the Staria itself is around 5.25 meters long, which aligns neatly with the size figures being floated for the Brussels debut, as seen in coverage that says Hyundai hints at a Staria‑based European EV.
Europe’s taste for giant EVs
Europe may be known for compact city cars, but in recent years it has also embraced large SUVs and vans, especially as electric powertrains make it easier to move big families and groups without the fuel penalties of older diesels. Hyundai’s own Ioniq 9 is described as a giant by European standards, a three‑row SUV stretching past five meters that already tests the limits of what many buyers consider manageable in tight streets and parking garages. The fact that Hyundai is now preparing something even larger for Europe suggests it sees a growing niche for electric shuttles, airport transfers and big family haulers that can justify the extra size.
One European‑focused analysis notes that even the Ioniq 9 counts as a giant by regional standards, describing it as a three‑row SUV stretching past five meters, and then points out that Hyundai teases its largest EV yet for Europe, with speculation centering on a Staria‑style minivan that would push the envelope further, as outlined in a piece that says Hyundai teases its largest EV yet for Europe, SUV. In that context, a 5.25‑meter electric people mover is less an outlier and more a logical next step for a market that is already experimenting with large battery‑powered vans and minibuses.
The platform and tech under the skin
While Hyundai has not officially confirmed the platform for its biggest EV, the company’s recent electric strategy makes the E‑GMP architecture the most likely candidate. The IONIQ 9, for example, rides on Hyundai’s dedicated E‑GMP platform, the same modular base that underpins the Kia EV9 and other large electric models, which allows for long wheelbases, flat floors and high‑capacity battery packs. Using this architecture for a Staria‑style people mover would give Hyundai the flexibility to offer multiple seating configurations and potentially long‑range variants tailored to shuttle operators.
Technical reporting on the IONIQ 9 notes that, like Kia’s EV9, the IONIQ 9 will ride on Hyundai’s dedicated E‑GMP platform, a setup that supports fast charging and large battery modules, as detailed in coverage that explains how Like Kia, the IONIQ 9 uses Hyundai’s GMP base. Separately, Hyundai has confirmed that its largest model yet will feature advanced 800-volt battery technology, a system that allows for very rapid DC fast charging and more efficient power delivery, as highlighted in reporting that says Hyundai is pairing its largest EV with 800-volt hardware. Together, those clues point to a technologically sophisticated van that can charge quickly enough to stay in near‑constant use.
How it fits into Hyundai’s EV hierarchy
Hyundai’s electric lineup is rapidly filling out, from compact crossovers to large SUVs, and the biggest EV teased for Brussels looks set to sit at the very top of that hierarchy in terms of size and interior space. The Hyundai IONIQ 9 already serves as the brand’s flagship three‑row SUV, marketed as a spacious and innovative all‑new EV for families who need three rows and plenty of cargo room. Adding an even larger people mover above it would give Hyundai a clear step‑up option for buyers and fleets that need more seats or more flexible cargo configurations than an SUV can offer.
Dealer materials describing the Hyundai IONIQ 9 Release Date Overview of an All New EV emphasize that the Hyundai IONIQ 9 is the brand’s new flagship three‑row SUV, a positioning that leaves room for a different kind of flagship focused on outright volume rather than luxury, as outlined in the The Hyundai IONIQ 9 overview. By teasing a model that is even larger and likely based on the Staria minivan, Hyundai appears to be creating a parallel flagship for people moving and commercial duties, one that can coexist with the Ioniq 9 rather than replace it.
What it means for families and fleets
For large families, the prospect of a 5.25‑meter electric people mover with three or even four rows of seating is significant, especially in markets where minivans have been overshadowed by SUVs. A Staria‑based EV could offer sliding doors, a high roof and flexible seating layouts that make school runs, road trips and multi‑generation outings easier than in a conventional SUV, while the 800-volt battery system would help keep charging stops short enough to be practical on long journeys. If Hyundai prices it competitively with diesel vans and large MPVs, it could tempt buyers who have been waiting for a truly spacious electric alternative.
For fleets, the combination of a huge cabin, fast charging and a modern electric platform could be even more compelling. Shuttle operators, ride‑sharing services and airport transfer companies are under pressure to cut emissions, and a factory‑built electric people mover from Hyundai would give them a ready‑made option with manufacturer support and a familiar service network. With Hyundai hinting at its biggest European EV yet, possibly an electric Staria, and tying that to its broader electric focus in the region, as seen in reports that describe Hyundai preparing a multi‑purpose vehicle for Brussels, the stakes are clear: this is not just a design exercise, it is a strategic tool aimed at both households and high‑mileage operators.
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