Hyundai will launch plug-in hybrid SUVs as a “bridge to electrification” in 2026, however nonetheless plans to launch 21 EVs globally by 2030.
Introduced in the course of the automaker’s 2024 CEO Investor Day presentation Wednesday, a brand new plug-in hybrid powertrain will use two electrical motors to allow all-wheel drive, with a combustion engine appearing primarily as a generator. That is much like the defunct Chevrolet Volt, and distinct from the plug-in hybrids Hyundai has supplied previously.
Hyundai claims a mixed vary of as much as 559 miles on each gasoline and electrical energy, with an “EV-like driving expertise” the automaker claims will encourage clients to offer all-electric fashions a strive sooner or later.
2025 Genesis GV80
The powertrain will first seem in SUVs for each Hyundai and the Genesis luxurious model. The automaker is focusing on annual North American gross sales of 80,000 models throughout each manufacturers. Hyundai plans to begin manufacturing by the tip of 2026, with gross sales beginning in 2027.
The Genesis plug-in hybrid SUV could also be simply one in every of a number of hybrids augmenting what was to be an all-EV lineup. Genesis in 2021 laid out plans to promote solely EVs or fuel-cell autos by 2030, however lately reversed course, citing buyer demand. A report from The Korea Financial Each day earlier this yr stated Genesis was creating a hybrid powertrain based mostly round a 2.5-liter engine, doubtless to be used within the G80 sedan and GV70 SUV.
Hyundai can be planning updates to its current hybrid system to enhance gas economic system and efficiency—whereas focusing on elevated gross sales. The automaker goals to promote 1.3 million hybrids globally by 2028, and 690,000 in North America alone by 2030. The automaker can be anticipated to add manufacturing of hybrids alongside EVs at its new Georgia Metaplant scheduled to open later this yr.
Hyundai Seven idea
EVs stay a precedence for Hyundai, although. The automaker stated it’s researching new battery tech, together with a brand new chemistry that it plans to introduce in 2030 alongside present nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) and lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) and cell-to-vehicle packaging that might see battery cells built-in straight with a car’s physique shell—going a step past even the cell-to-pack designs being touted by the likes of Chinese language battery provider CATL.
Hyundai is focusing on 2 million international EV gross sales by 2030. Among the many new fashions already slated for manufacturing is a three-row SUV debuting later this yr—the Hyundai Ioniq 9, based mostly on the Hyundai Seven idea first proven in 2021—in addition to further efficiency fashions within the vein of the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N.