Hyundai Motor Company’s Inster, also known as the Casper Electric in some markets, has been honored with the 2025 World Electric Vehicle award at the World Car Awards, held today at the New York International Auto Show. The Hyundai Inster stood out among strong contenders, including the Kia EV3 and the Porsche Macan Electric, showcasing its distinctive design, efficiency, and advanced technology.
A Compact EV Making a Big Impact
The Hyundai Inster stands out in the sub-compact electric vehicle segment with its unique design and impressive features. Equipped with a 49 kWh battery, it offers a driving range of up to 370 kilometers and supports rapid charging, achieving a 10-to-80-percent charge in approximately 30 minutes. These attributes make it a practical choice for urban commuters and environmentally conscious drivers alike.
José Muñoz, President and CEO of Hyundai Motor Company, expressed his gratitude for the award, stating, “The Hyundai INSTER has been a winner with customers since we introduced it. It’s very gratifying that the experts on the prestigious World Car Awards jurors feel the same way. The combination of compelling design, range, enjoyable driving characteristics, intuitive infotainment and technology that customers appreciate is emblematic of Hyundai’s approach of delivering exceptional value to our customers. The fact that our global portfolio is successful both commercially and critically speaks to the hard-working people throughout the Hyundai value chain who are delivering some of the best vehicles on the road today. Thank you to all the jurors for your service to this great industry.”
Hyundai’s Continued Success at the World Car Awards
Hyundai Motor Company has achieved recognition at the World Car Awards for four consecutive years, highlighting its consistent excellence in automotive innovation.
In 2022, the Hyundai IONIQ 5 secured three major titles: World Car of the Year, World Electric Vehicle, and World Car Design of the Year. The following year, the IONIQ 6 replicated this success by winning the same trio of awards, underscoring Hyundai’s prowess in design and electric mobility.
The momentum continued in 2024 when the high-performance IONIQ 5 N was named World Performance Car, marking the fourth major victory for the all-electric IONIQ 5 lineup within three years.
In 2025, Hyundai’s latest EV, the Inster (also known as the Casper Electric in certain markets), was shortlisted for three categories: World Car of the Year, World Urban Car, and World Electric Vehicle.
Eligibility Criteria for the 2025 World Electric Vehicle Award
To qualify for the 2025 World Electric Vehicle category at the World Car Awards, a vehicle must meet the following criteria:
- Electric-Only Powertrain: The vehicle must be exclusively powered by one or more electric motors.
- Minimum Production Volume: It should be produced in quantities of at least 5,000 units per year.
- Global Availability: The vehicle must be available for sale in at least two major markets—such as China, Europe, India, Japan, Korea, Latin America, or the USA—across two different continents.
- Sales Period: The vehicle must have been on sale between January 1, 2024, and March 30, 2025.
