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Evolute i-Sky slips to autumn as hybrid stays due in 2026
Evolute pushed Russian series production of the i-Sky to early autumn 2026, while still targeting an August sales start and a hybrid by year-end.
Image: ITzine
Evolute has delayed Russian series production of the i-Sky crossover to early autumn 2026. At Innoprom-2026, the company had previously pointed to August, but it now says the model will reach the Motorinvest production line at the start of autumn instead. The hybrid version is still scheduled to arrive before the end of the year.
The company says the shift is tied to preparations for larger output, not a cancellation. According to the report, Evolute is citing strong demand and is discussing running the plant in multiple shifts, a sign that it sees the i-Sky as more than a limited batch for the Russian market.
Both the battery-electric i-Sky and the upcoming hybrid will be built using a full-cycle production process, including body welding and painting. That marks a more localized approach than the large-unit assembly model still used by many newer vehicle projects in Russia.
Motorinvest, based in the Lipetsk region, has been producing vehicles under the Evolute brand since 2022. Its current lineup includes the i-Pro sedan, i-Joy and i-Jet crossovers, and the i-Space hybrid.
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Sales of the i-Sky in Russia are still planned for August, meaning early customer deliveries could begin before full-scale local series production starts. The report notes that this is common in the local market, where initial batches can come from vehicles assembled earlier while the factory ramps up to planned output.
The published Evolute i-Sky specifications are:
- Body type: front-wheel-drive crossover
- Length: 4685 mm
- Width: 1900 mm
- Height: 1613 mm
- Wheelbase: 2775 mm
- Motor output: 218 hp
- Battery: 62 kWh
- Range: up to 424 km
- 0–100 km/h: about 8 seconds
- Top speed: 160 km/h
That puts the i-Sky in the mid-size family crossover class rather than the compact city EV segment. With relatively few locally assembled electric models in this part of the Russian market, Evolute has a clear opening—if Motorinvest can keep to its revised 2026 schedule.
Frontier Editor
Dan is our resident futurist, covering electric mobility, space exploration, and the smart home. He's interested in atoms just as much as bits. Whether it's a new battery chemistry, a reusable rocket, or a protocol that finally makes IoT devices talk to each other, Dan breaks down the engineering that pushes humanity forward.
via ITzine
