Hyundai's India Strategy Explained In 9 Images

No long ago, Hyundai used to be the second largest carmaker in India. Data from February 2026 paints a different picture. According to it, the Korean giant has slipped to the fourth spot with Tata Motors and Mahindra taking the second and third spots respectively. Hyundai wishes to climb back to the second spot and is plotting a strong fightback plan for the same.

It started the year 2026 on a strong note. The first two months saw handsome sales momentum. Backed by a series of launches and a Rs 45,000 crores commitment, Hyundai expects this to grow significantly in the coming months (and years). Before delving into the details of the comeback plan, let’s look at the February rankings.

Sales data from March 2026 isn’t available at the time of writing this article. That’s why we are basing this on February figures. In February, Hyundai India posted domestic sales of 52,407 units, which effectively placed it at the fourth spot. Mahindra sold 60,018 units and ranked third, while Tata Motors registered sales of 62,329 units during the month. Tata ranked second- exactly where Hyundai now wishes to get back at. Selling 1,61,000 units, Maruti Suzuki cemented its position as the country’s largest automotive manufacturer.

A deeper analysis of sales data reveals an interesting paradox. Hyundai’s India sales have had an year-on-year growth of 9.8 percent, as just 47727 units were sold in February last year. However, the numbers have fallen on a month-on-month basis.

The carmaker had a spectacular January this year. It posted domestic sales of 59,107 units during the first month, while total dispatches then stood at 73,137 units- the highest-ever for the manufacturer. The larger picture of 2026 indicates a minor month-on-month down-trend. This seems to have allowed aggressive Indian rivals to edge past the Korean in terms of overall growth.

Let’s now take a closer look at Hyundai’s BIG comeback plan. This Rs 45,000 crore plan is based on three key pillars- One, aggressive expansion of product portfolio, covering several segments and price points. Two, a stronger focus on electrification. This includes bringing more competitively-priced all-electric models with increased localisation and even rolling out more hybrids. And finally, strengthening the SUV range, effectively capitalising on the SUV bodystyle’s overall momentum. The strategy seems sensible and is expected to begin in 2026 and go on till 2030.

As part of the same, at least six launches are expected in 2026. Two of these have, in fact, already commenced- the Exter and Verna facelifts. The facelifted Verna was launched on March 9, 2026, with a starting ex-showroom price of Rs 10.98 lakh. It comes in six trims, with the range-topping one priced at Rs 18.25 lakh. (All prices ex-showroom).

Changes on the Verna facelift are mostly cosmetic. It gets a revised front fascia with a larger grille, new LED headlamp cluster, and front bumper. The wheels are new and the rear end sees the addition of a revised bumper. Inside, the sedan continues to retain most features of the pre-facelift model like two 10.25-inch screens, level 2 ADAS, front ventilated seats and more. Additionally, it gets Hyundai’s new-age steering wheel design with the four-dot (Morse code) logo and a few additional features like a built-in dashcam and an 8-way powered driver's seat with memory function.

The Exter facelift was launched in India on March 20th. It comes with subtler design tweaks. The front fascia has a redesigned grille section, reworked nose area, new bumper and more. Other design highlights include new 15-inch wheels, redesigned rear spoiler, restyled exterior garnishes, and an updated rear bumper. Inside, the facelifted Exter gets a new colour scheme and more upmarket trims and details. The updated micro-SUV is placed in the Rs 5.79- 9.42 lakh price bracket. Both these vehicles have also transitioned to the carmaker’s ‘HX’ nomenclature system with the facelifts.

Let’s now talk about the other upcoming products. The planned offensive remains heavily skewed towards SUVs. A ‘mystery SUV’ was recently spied on test, hinting at an upcoming model that is likely to sit between the Venue and Creta when launched. Details of this model remain limited. The intention seems to be to bridge the price gap that currently exists between the two popular SUVs. If packaged and priced well, this product could significantly boost volumes.

Next, the most important product- the next-generation Hyundai Creta. Expected in the second half of this year, this will be a crucial product for Hyundai. The Creta still holds the mid-size SUV crown. The next-generation will be underpinned by the K3 platform found on the second-generation Seltos. The next-generation is expected to be larger, more advanced and better-kitted than the outgoing Creta.

In addition to the outgoing model’s engine trio- 1.5L naturally aspirated petrol, 1.5L turbo-petrol and 1.5L diesel- the new model is also likely to get a strong hybrid powertrain that focuses heavily on fuel efficiency.

The carmaker is also known to be working on a three-row SUV as a potential rival for the Mahindra XUV 7XO. Essentially a replacement for the Tucson, this will play a key role in increasing Hyundai’s presence in more premium segments.

Hyundai also has plans to enter some mass-market segments which it hopes, will be rewarding, in the time ahead. One such demography is that of affordable electric cars. An Inster-based electric SUV is known to be in plans. When launched, it will compete with the Punch.EV and Citroen eC3 and become the carmaker’s most affordable all-electric offering. It will be based on the E-GMP platform and will likely offer the choice of two battery packs- 42kWh and 49 kWh with ranges in the ballparks of 300km and 355 km respectively.

The next ‘new demography’ is that of a compact crossover. Hyundai will launch the second-generation Bayon in India in the upcoming months. The global Bayon’s second-generation will be brought with India-specific changes. It will likely be powered by a newly-developed 1.2L turbocharged petrol engine which will be hybrid ready, and will also offer the option of the familiar 1.0L turbo-petrol. The new engine will offer both manual and automatic transmission choices and will likely produce around 160hp.

Here’s a quick overview of the aforementioned products and details of the segments they belong to, technology/ platform and their possible rivals when they launch here.

In short, Hyundai plans to regain their second spot through careful strategic planning and an aggressive product onslaught. Leveraging the global E-GMP platform and localising strong hybrid powertrains will help in future-proofing the lineup. The Rs 45,000 crore war chest will help in keeping everything on track, especially in a fight in which local players like Tata and Mahindra have a profound cost and supply chain advantage.