Hyundai has unveiled a near-production prototype of the Neira at the show. Named after a popular local island called Banda Neira, it is essentially a rebadged version of Kia’s Carens EV, but the company has reworked the design to market it as an SUV instead and, to an extent, also better reflect its brand identity.
The front-end of the Neira offers a somewhat distinctive appearance with a unique faux upper grille featuring a chain-link-inspired pattern, a more rugged bumper, and a differently designed faux skid plate. The headlamps and daytime running lights are no different from the Kia model, suggesting Hyundai has sought to minimise development time and costs.
A more rugged look for the body side moulding, 17-inch two-tone wheels, rear bumper, and faux rear skid plate complete the Neira’s mildly differentiated exterior. Inside, Hyundai has tweaked the UI of the instrument cluster and infotainment system, but until the vehicle is switched on, only the four dots on the steering wheel, representing the letter “H” in Morse code, serve as the obvious cue.
Hyundai Indonesia President Kenny Lee confirmed plans for local production of the Neira at GIIAS 2026. Kia Sales Indonesia CEO Jong Sung Park indicated at the same event that the Carens EV will be manufactured alongside the Neira at the local Hyundai plant, located in Cikarang (West Java Province), from November. He also hinted at plans to export the Carens EV beginning in April 2027, suggesting a broader Southeast Asia rollout.
