Hyundai Motor Company is stepping up investments in its Indian supply chain, targeting 90% sourcing of vehicle content from the country by 2030, while positioning India as a major export base for its global operations.
The South Korean automaker has a network of more than 1,400 local suppliers and over 900 local engineers. It aims to export around 30% of its India production volume by 2030 to markets across West Asia, Africa, Asia and South America.
India gains strategic role
With manufacturing facilities in India capable of producing 1.1 million vehicles annually, Hyundai Motor sees the country continuing to play an important role in its global export strategy.
The company is also preparing a fresh product offensive in India, with plans to expand its SUV portfolio across powertrain technologies.
An all-new electric SUV, localised and designed for India, is scheduled for launch in the fourth quarter. The model will feature a next-generation infotainment system and Level 2 assisted driving technology.
Hyundai will also introduce a new internal combustion engine (ICE)-powered mid-size SUV in the Indian market.
100-plus models by 2030
The India strategy forms part of Hyundai Motor’s broader product offensive announced at its 2026 CEO Investor Day. The company is targeting global sales of 5.55 million units by 2030 while seeking to strengthen profitability.
Hyundai plans to launch or refresh more than 100 models globally by 2030, spanning multiple powertrain options. The programme includes its first extended-range electric vehicle (EREV), combining battery-electric driving capability with an onboard charging system.
Hyundai Motor Company President and CEO Jose Munoz said, “Our fundamentals have never been stronger. Hyundai Motor Group is the third-largest automotive group and the second-most profitable, which gives us the ability to invest while others are pulling back.”
He said the company is bringing more than 100 new models to market by 2030, while targeting an operating margin of more than 9%.
India among key launch markets
Of the more than 100 global launches and refreshes planned through 2030, Hyundai expects 26 to be in India. North America is slated for 58 launches, followed by Korea with 49, Europe with 41 and China with 22.
Upcoming products include the all-new Elantra, IONIQ 3, Tucson and Tucson Hybrid, Santa Fe EREV, an A-segment SUV EV for India, a global B-segment SUV and a B-segment SUV for Europe.
The Tucson and Tucson Hybrid are scheduled to launch in initial markets in the fourth quarter. With more than 10 million cumulative sales, Tucson is Hyundai Motor’s most successful global nameplate.
EREV expands electrification
The new Santa Fe EREV is scheduled to arrive in the first half of 2027. Hyundai expects the model to offer more than 600 miles of total range, combining an EV-like driving experience with the convenience of an onboard powertrain designed to address range and charging concerns.
The vehicle will be manufactured at Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama in the US.
Beyond existing segments, Hyundai is also targeting so-called “white spaces” where it has a limited presence. These segments account for about 29% of global automotive sales and include body-on-frame vehicles, a mid-size pickup and light commercial vehicles.
Shift towards software-defined vehicles
Hyundai’s strategy is extending beyond vehicle hardware as it builds software-defined vehicle (SDV) capabilities around a data-driven model.
The company is creating a data flywheel that links data collection, analysis, AI, service enhancement and over-the-air updates. The objective is to use data generated by vehicles to continuously improve software and customer experiences.
The refreshed Grandeur, for instance, incorporates the Pleos Connect infotainment system and Gleo AI, Hyundai’s generative AI agent. Data from vehicles is analysed to improve Gleo AI and develop new Pleos Connect features, which can subsequently be delivered to customers through OTA updates.
Building AI infrastructure
Hyundai Motor Group is also standardising its sensor architecture around the NVIDIA ecosystem, allowing data collected from Hyundai Motor, Kia, 42dot and Motional to be integrated under a common framework.
From 2029, the company plans to bring online the Saemangeum AI Data Center, a 100-MW facility capable of housing more than 50,000 GPUs.
Hyundai intends to combine data generated through its global mass-production vehicle fleet with its in-house AI systems and supporting infrastructure to accelerate development of SDVs and autonomous driving.
Roadmap to Level 4 autonomy
Hyundai has laid out a phased roadmap for autonomous driving. By the end of 2026, its autonomous driving AI, Atria AI, is expected to be deployed in Gwangju, South Jeolla Province, to gather data on complex and unexpected road situations.
In 2028, through a strategic collaboration with NVIDIA, Hyundai plans to introduce Level 2+ autonomous driving technology in its first mass-produced SDV model.
The company will use driving data generated by these vehicles to train and improve Atria AI, with the technology expected to expand progressively across mass-produced vehicles from Level 2+ towards Level 4 capability.
With Hyundai Motor Group selling more than seven million vehicles annually, the company expects its global vehicle fleet to provide a large and increasingly valuable source of data for AI development.
Strong first-half performance
Hyundai Motor enters the next phase of its strategy after delivering two million wholesale vehicles in the first half of 2026.
Revenue stood at 95.2 trillion won, representing a 2.7% year-on-year increase, while operating profit margin was 5.6%.
The company’s India strategy — combining deeper localisation, higher exports, new SUV launches and investments in software and AI — is set to make the country an increasingly important pillar of Hyundai’s global growth ambitions.