Hyundai Genesis India launch likely by second half of 2025

With the Indian luxury car market on the cusp of hitting a record high, Hyundai Motor Corporation is looking to launch its premium, luxury brand Genesis in the country, most likely by late 2025. Sources say, the South Korean car major has set up a new team to craft a plan for the market launch of the Genesis brand in India. Our sister publication Autocar Professional learns the predominant focus of the Genesis brand in the country will be electric vehicles, and that too, majorly SUVs. This corroborates our report from a while back that said Hyundai was keen to bring its Genesis luxury arm to India.

1. Genesis will take on Lexus, Audi, Mercedes and BMW in India
2. India innings likely to start with two CBU models
3. Local assembly planned at a later stage

Genesis expected to start India innings with SUVs

At present, the go-to-market strategy is being defined and the company is studying the potential of launching the GV70, GV80 and GV90 SUVs (the last one has yet to be launched globally) in the market. “The decision to enter the luxury car space has been taken and the company is now moving to the execution space,” added sources. The models may come in as CBUs in the first phase, and then, the SUVs will eventually be assembled at the company's factory in Sriperumbudur on the outskirts of Chennai.

An email sent to Hyundai Motor India with queries did not elicit any response.

Genesis SUV line-up: a quick snapshot

The Genesis GV70 is a direct rival to the Mercedes GLC and the Audi Q5. The current-gen of this SUV has been around since 2020 and received a mid-life update recently. It comes with multiple petrol, and petrol-hybrid powertrain options.

The second model which could come to India is the GV80, which is one of the more popular Genesis SUVs around. The GV80 also made its debut back in 2020 and got a mid-life update recently. Hyundai also introduced an SUV-coupe based on the GV80 called the GV80 Coupe recently that gets a tapered roofline for a more sporty appearance. The GV80 is a direct rival to the Mercedes-Benz GLE and the BMW X5, among other similarly-sized luxury SUVs.

The brand also has the Genesis GV60 e-SUV that takes on the likes of the BMW iX1 and the Volv