The Hyundai brand might have had an awful 2024 in China but against that, South Korea, The Americas, India and Europe were all strong. Year-on-year deliveries dipped by 1.8 per cent to 4,141,791 vehicles split 705,010 (-7.5%) for the home market and 3,436,781 (-0.5%) elsewhere.

Plans for 2025 and beyond will see a record spend of 24.3 trillion won (US$16.6 bn) this year by Hyundai-Genesis-Kia plus Mobis, so the OEM’s three marques and in-house Tier 1 are well placed for growth.

Half of the just-announced investment will go into R&D for innovation, and as the largest brand, Hyundai should benefit the most. This report explores a selection of likely future models, the life cycles of which would extend into the mid-2030s in certain cases.

EREVs coming for major markets

Let’s look first at China, where sales fell by more than a third from already low levels. Hyundai is well aware of the issues causing this collapse and vows to continue working on them. Notably, more hybrids, including a range extender powertrain, are promised, as are market-specific EVs.

In 2024, the company retailed fewer than 150,000 locally made cars and SUVs in the world’s largest market – a far cry from the years when its JV with BAIC was booming. Only the Tucson, Custo and Mufasa are selling more 1,000 units monthly, which means the Sonata, ix25 and Santa Fe will likely not be replaced when their life cycles end.

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Cars

The i10, a small hatchback which is mainly for India and Europe, is now on its third generation and due to be replaced in 2026. Build should again be in both Chennai and Izmit (Turkey). We should also see a new i20 next year, manufactured in the same plants.

One size up is the i30. Generation four is due for launch in 2027 and this model should again be mainly for European markets with build in the Czech Republic. Roughly six months before this car arrives, the follow-up to today’s Avante (Elantra is many markets) is set to premiere in South Korea. An evolution of the current model’s architecture should be the basis of the eighth generation car.

By contrast to how it’s been performing in the PRC, the Sonata has enjoyed quite a comeback in both Korea and the USA, helped by competitors leaving the size segment. Launched in 2019 and facelifted in 2023, the next Sonata is set to debut in 2026. Its platform will most probably be N4.

Above the Sonata, the Grandeur is now approaching mid-life and will be facelifted later in 2025. At the same time, Hyundai is said to be planning the addition of a PHEV and/or an EREV. The replacement comes in 2028.

MPV

Highly distinctive and a good seller, the Staria line-up will be expanded later in 2025 via the addition of an EV. Production will be on Line 1 at the Ulsan 4 plant. There should also be a facelift for the petrol hybrid, LPG and diesel variants this year. The replacements would be due in 2028 but the ST1 light commercial derivative might not be altered until the early 2030s.

Pick-ups

Not too many details are official as yet but what is known is that Hyundai has a JV pick-up on the way due in 2027. Under development with General Motors, it is understood that this model will not be related to the Kia Tasman. It is thought that the GM model will be the successor for South America’s Chevrolet S-10 replacement. This means a body-on-frame chassis.

There is also thought to be a separate project for an electric pick-up, potentially in two sizes. Details on this one are scarce though the Ioniq 7 and Ioniq 10 names are rumoured, following trademark applications having been lodged for both.

As for the Santa Cruz, a monocoque pick-up built in the USA, it received a facelift for the 2025 model year and so will be due for replacement in CY2027. The second generation model should use HMG’s forthcoming N4 architecture (FWD and AWD) and this time around a hybrid powertrain is highly likely.

Crossovers & SUVs: A & B segments

The Inster, which is about to be launched in Europe, is known in South Korea as the Casper Electric. There are two batteries as well as a crossover derivative. As this tiny vehicle is based on a petrol-powered model which dates to 2021, the Inster/Casper should be replaced as soon as 2028/2029. Petrol and electric powertrains are believed to be planned. Build of a special model for India (code: He1i) is also planned.

Sold mainly in North America and India, the Venue comes in two lengths so as to slip beneath a tax category in the latter market: the Chennai-built model is 3,995 mm long or 45 mm shorter than the Ulsan-manufactured alternative.

The second generation Venue may be revealed as soon as this year, potentially debuting at a US auto show, possibly New York in April. India’s model (code: Q2Xi) likely won’t be in production there until 2026 or even 2027, however. An EV will inevitably also be offered.

Will there be a successor for the Bayon when its lifecycle ends in 2027? It could go either way but the small (4.2 m long) SUV hasn’t been the success which Hyundai had hoped for. A competitive vehicle, the main issue is really how crowded the segment is, especially in Europe. It is more or less a special model for the region, featuring there and in certain other countries instead of the Venue.

Crossovers & SUVs: C & D segments

A far better performer is the larger Kona. This distinctive looking SUV can be ordered with a petrol engine or in three electrified forms: MHEV, HEV or EV. The latest model was new in 2023 so next up will be a facelift in 2026 and a third generation in 2029, though it should be revealed in late 2028.

Wearing an ix25 badge in China (where it has not been too successful) and Creta in India (where it has been), a more conservative looking 4.3 m long SUV is about to be complemented by yet another Hyundai EV. The Creta Electric is for the moment mainly targeted at the Indian market, where it will offer 42 kWh Standard or 51.4 kWh Long Range batteries. As the petrol model dates to 2019, replacements are due to be revealed in 2026. The EV’s follow-up might not however be manufactured at HMIL’s Chennai plant until 2027.

Emboldened by having seen that Maruti Suzuki can be beaten – a Tata was the Indian market’s best selling model in 2024 – Hyundai is developing a sub-Tucson model especially for that market. Due to be revealed in late 2026 and on sale in mid-2027, production of the Ni1i project will take place at the former General Motors Talagaon plant outside Pune. Insiders report that there will be up to seven seats, with powertrain choices including a hybrid option.

Ioniq 5 to stay EV-only for second generation?

Hugely popular worldwide, the Tucson is now well into the second half of what should be a six-year manufacturing plan. In fact, the next model is due in 2026 and there should again be HEV and PHEV powertrains as well as non-electrified alternatives for relevant markets.

Looking now at an electric-only crossover, the Ioniq 5 has done a great deal of heavy lifting to shift Hyundai’s image in multiple countries. It also continues to convert many an EV-sceptic and the high performance N variant has been deservedly acclaimed. The follow up is due in 2027 and should be based on an evolution of E-GMP, this model having debuted that platform in 2021. Length will likely remain around the 4.6 m long mark.

Santa Fe to gain a range extender in 2026

One of Hyundai’s best sellers at a global level is about to celebrate a quarter of a century of build, with generation five of the Santa Fe now a year into its production cycle. That means a mid-cycle refresh is scheduled for 2026 (plus an EREV powertrain) with a successor due in late 2028 or early 2029. Existing plants in South Korea, the USA and China should produce generation six. HMG’s yet to be seen N4 platform should feature.

Deliveries of the brand’s newest SUV commenced earlier on 15 January, production of the second generation Palisade having started at a plant in Ulsan during December. This square-styled 5.1 m long SUV comes with the choice of 207 kW (281 PS) 2.5-litre turbo or 246 kW (334 PS) 2.5-litre turbo hybrid powertrains. While South Korea is the launch market, the US will also gain the new Palisade later in 2025 as a 26MY vehicle. The life cycle should be six years, a facelift being expected in 2028.

Finally, the Ioniq 9, which is the same length as the Palisade but is an EV. Debuting at the LA auto show in November (2024), this big SUV has a standard 110.3 kWh battery and is manufactured at Asan in Korea’s South Chungcheong province. It will also be made at the Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America (HMGMA) in Bryan County, Georgia commencing later in 2025. Production should endure for six, possibly seven years.

Hydrogen Fuel Cell vehicle

While others seem to have put FCEVs on the backburner, Hyundai Motor Group continues to champion them. Soon, we should see a successor for the Nexo in the form of a fresh fuel cell-powered SUV. Likely to be called Initium, it was previewed by a prototype of this same name last October (see image). Production is due to start in May with the first examples for the Korean market, to be followed by vehicles for the US and Canada as well as selected European countries. Planned annual production is an ambitious 30,000 units or roughly triple the Nexo’s volume.

South Korea report: domestic vehicle sales up 6% in December