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Hyundai lays out bold roadmap: scale, electrification and new segments
Hyundai Motor Company used its first CEO Investor Day held outside South Korea to reveal an aggressive growth plan built around heavy investment, regional product strategies and new vehicle segments. The automaker plans to invest 77.3 trillion won (more than $53.5 billion) through 2030 to expand capacity, develop software-defined vehicles and push electrified powertrains.
Key headline: 5.5 million vehicles, 3.3 million electrified
At the heart of the strategy is a global sales target of 5.5 million vehicles by 2030, with 3.3 million of those expected to be electrified — a mix of battery-electric vehicles (BEVs), hybrids and newly announced Extended Range EVs (EREVs). Hyundai is pursuing both product-led and production-led moves: entering new segments while adding factory capacity and software capability.
The plan is market-aware. Hyundai will deepen regionalization — designing and producing vehicles closer to their intended markets. Examples announced include an Ioniq 3 EV tailored for Europe, a locally designed EV for India, and China-built models such as the Elexio and an electric sedan.
Mid-size body-on-frame pickup for North America
One of the most notable announcements for U.S. and Canadian buyers is a new mid-size, body-on-frame pickup scheduled for launch by 2030. This truck is separate from Hyundai’s joint project with General Motors for Central and South America and is aimed squarely at traditional pickup buyers who prioritize towing, off-road toughness and modular utility.
Market positioning will put this truck against established rivals such as the Toyota Tacoma rather than the unibody Hyundai Santa Cruz or the Honda Ridgeline. Hyundai’s Santa Cruz, a smaller unibody ute built in the U.S., has struggled to match the success of competitors like the Mexico-built Ford Maverick. By moving into body-on-frame architecture, Hyundai signals an intent to compete with Bronco-, Wrangler- and 4Runner-style buyers and potentially expand into derivatives that appeal to off-road and commercial customers.
Where this fits in the lineup
Hyundai’s approach blends multiple strategies:
- Broaden segments: mid-size pickup and light commercial vehicles.
- Regional models: Europe-focused Ioniq 3, India EV, China Elexio.
- Electrified breadth: BEV, hybrid, and EREV offerings, plus Genesis across all powertrains.
Production, software and batteries: the infrastructure push
Production expansion is central to reaching the sales goal. In the U.S., Hyundai Motor Group’s Metaplant America (HMGMA) in Georgia will enter Phase 2, adding 200,000 vehicles of capacity by 2028 through a $2.7 billion investment and creating roughly 3,000 jobs. Globally, Hyundai’s Software-Defined Factory model is targeted to add about 1.2 million units of capacity.
On the tech side, Hyundai is investing in the Software-Defined Vehicle (SDV) platform, a High-Performance Vehicle Computer architecture for continuous over-the-air updates and AI-driven features, and next-generation battery systems. A cloud-based battery management system is slated to arrive in 2026. The company also plans to launch its first EREV models in 2027, targeting a driving range over 600 miles — a feature that could appeal to buyers seeking EV efficiency with long-distance range confidence.
Genesis, partnerships and autonomy
Hyundai’s premium brand, Genesis, will deploy EREV, hybrid and BEV powertrains across its range, including a forthcoming flagship SUV, with an aim of delivering about 350,000 Genesis vehicles globally by 2030.
Strategic alliances remain part of the playbook. Hyundai continues to work with Waymo on fully autonomous driving technology, with Ioniq 5 prototypes already undergoing public road testing in the United States. The automaker also maintains a known strategic partnership with General Motors and collaborations with industry players such as Amazon Autos.
Highlights:
- 77.3 trillion won investment through 2030
- 5.5 million global sales target; 3.3 million electrified
- New body-on-frame mid-size pickup for North America (by 2030)
- HMGMA Phase 2 adds 200k capacity and ~3,000 jobs
- EREV rollout expected in 2027 with >600-mile range
Hyundai’s strategy is comprehensive: grow capacity, localize products, deepen electrification and embed software-first vehicle architectures. For consumers and industry watchers, the result will be a broader product mix — from regional EVs and long-range EREVs to a mainstream body-on-frame pickup — backed by factories and software designed for rapid iteration and scale.
Source: autoevolution
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