According to three sources, Hyundai Motor Group intends to introduce its first hybrid vehicles in India as early as 2026. This move is part of the South Korean automaker’s ambition to expand beyond electric vehicles and increase its market share in a significant auto market.
The group, which consists of Kia Corp. and Hyundai Motor, is thinking of introducing a hybrid sport utility vehicle in India. Sources with knowledge of the situation claim that the planned SUV, which is anticipated to resemble its well-liked mid-sized Creta SUV in size, is now being assessed.
Hyundai and Kia are rapidly laying the groundwork for the 2026–2027 introduction of hybrid SUVs in India, even as they move forward with their electrification ambitions for the subcontinent. In response to claims in the media, Hyundai Motor Group stated that it was committed to a future of electrified mobility and will optimize product strategies for each market. According to the report, Both Hyundai, India’s second-largest carmaker, and Kia aim to launch hybrid SUVs in 2026 or 2027. The report also confirmed that their electric vehicle (EV) plans for India are progressing as planned.
The shift towards hybrid vehicles, which combine an electric motor and a petrol engine, is the result of a sharp increase in sales of this technology in India. Hyundai has reacted to this by departing from its original plan, which was to concentrate only on battery-electric cars.
In India, as of now, Hyundai and Kia only provide petrol and diesel vehicles in addition to imported electric vehicles like the IONIQ 5 and EV6. But they want to introduce their first electric vehicles (EVs) manufactured in India in 2025. EV sales have been slow despite these ambitions because of high costs and a lack of infrastructure for charging them. Due to this, the company is now considering hybrids as a “interim strategy,” according to a source cited by Reuters.
Growing demand for hybrid cars
Hybrid cars run on both an electric motor and a conventional engine, often powered by petrol. These vehicles have a short electric range and a larger fuel range when using the petrol engine. According to experts, hybrid automobiles might be a decent transitional option before switching to electric vehicles. The nation’s infrastructure for electric car charging is still underdeveloped. In this case, hybrid cars could prove to be a superior alternative.
