By 2026, Hyundai Will Introduce Hybrid Vehicles in India? What We Know Is As follows

Hyundai, India’s second-largest automaker, intends to introduce its first hybrid vehicle in the nation by 2026 in an effort to go beyond electric cars and establish its strong foothold in the automotive sector.

According to a Reuters story, the tech giant is allegedly testing a hybrid sport-utility vehicle in India that would resemble its mid-sized Creta SUV.

The consortium, which includes Kia Corp. (000270.KS) and Hyundai Motor (005380.KS), plans to introduce its hybrid SUVs in 2026 or 2027. The automaker’s electric vehicle (EV) ambitions for India are likewise on schedule, the media outlet said.

Hyundai Motor Group told Reuters in an interview that it would tailor its product plans to each market and is dedicated to an electric transportation future.

Hyundai made the switch to hybrid vehicles in response to a sharp increase in sales of the technology in India, which is now its third-largest source of income after the US and South Korea. The automaker was forced by this to change course from its original plan, which was limited to battery-powered electric cars.

Hyundai and Kia now import electric vehicles (EVs) like the IONIQ 5 and EV6, respectively, and exclusively sell gasoline and diesel vehicles. However, they are now preparing to introduce their first EVs manufactured in India, the third-largest auto market in the world, in 2025.

Hyundai hopes to have the first dibs on the hybrid market in India until EV sales pick up speed, a source told the news agency. In order to mainstream that technology for Indian automobiles, work has recently started on its adaptation.

With these hybrid vehicles, Hyundai will be able to more effectively compete with competitor Maruti Suzuki, which also expects to offer more reasonably priced models using technology from parent company Suzuki Motor and sells similar models in partnership with Toyota.

Furthermore, after selling its two Russian facilities and reducing output in China, Hyundai is stepping up its efforts in the South Asian country and intends to launch a $3 billion initial public offering.

In the meantime, Hyundai is getting ready to introduce, in less than a year, its first domestically built electric car that is based on the Creta. Furthermore, a mass-market EV is being developed and is anticipated to be released by 2026 or 2027.

In order to guarantee cost, the South Korean automaker has also partnered with Exide Industries, an Indian battery producer, to localize battery cells.