Hyundai Motor Co., South Korea’s top automaker, plans to launch its first dedicated electric vehicle model early next year, Yonhap News Agency reported.

The hatchback compact electric model being developed under the name AE was supposed to be launched later this year. The new plan is to launch the new model during the International Electric Vehicle Expo which will be held in March on the southern resort island of Jeju, Yonhap News Agency said.

The new model to be unveiled will be Hyundai Motor’s first pure electric vehicle. Hyundai Motor has launched hybrid versions of existing models, such as the Sonata. Early this year, the company launched its first plug-in hybrid electric vehicle at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The Sonata Plug-in Hybrid can travel up to 35.4 kilometres on electric power and can recharge in as little as two and a half hours with a level 2 charger.