Hyundai Announces Genesis Luxury Brand Entry into India by 2027

Hyundai Motor India Limited has officially announced the launch of its premium marque Genesis in India, with the first locally manufactured model expected to debut in 2027. The announcement was made during the company's inaugural investor day in Mumbai on 14th October, marking a significant milestone in India's rapidly evolving luxury automotive landscape.

Genesis, Hyundai's global luxury brand established in 2015, will arrive in India as part of the South Korean automaker's ambitious ₹45,000 crore investment plan through 2030. Unlike typical luxury car launches that rely on completely built units (CBUs), Genesis vehicles will be manufactured locally at Hyundai's Sriperumbudur facility near Chennai, making the brand more competitively priced in the premium segment.

Since its inception, Genesis has grown into a formidable luxury brand with a presence in 20 global markets. The brand achieved a remarkable milestone in August 2023, surpassing one million cumulative vehicle sales worldwide in less than eight years. This rapid growth trajectory demonstrates the brand's acceptance amongst discerning luxury car buyers globally.

Genesis currently operates across North America, South Korea, Europe, the Middle East, and Central Asia. In the United States, the brand has sold over 225,000 units cumulatively and recorded its best annual performance in 2022 with 56,410 vehicles. The European expansion, which began in 2021 with Germany, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom, is now extending to France, Italy, Spain, and the Netherlands, with deliveries scheduled to commence in early 2026.

The brand has also made strategic entries into emerging markets, including Kazakhstan in 2025 and Egypt earlier in the year, becoming the first luxury automotive brand from South Korea to enter the African continent. This two-track strategy of targeting both advanced and emerging markets aligns perfectly with Genesis's planned India entry.

For 2025, Genesis projects global sales of 225,000 units, with an ambitious target of reaching 350,000 units annually by 2030—representing a 55 per cent increase. The GV80 SUV, which surpassed 100,000 sales in the United States in 2025, remains the brand's second best-selling model globally after the G80 sedan.

Genesis currently offers a comprehensive lineup consisting of three sedans—the G70, G80, and flagship G90—alongside three SUVs: the all-electric GV60, the GV70 (available in both petrol and electric variants), and the GV80.

India's luxury automotive market has witnessed substantial growth in recent years, reaching approximately 51,200 units in 2024—a six per cent increase over the previous year. The first half of 2025 saw around 22,900 luxury cars sold, representing modest 1.8 per cent year-on-year growth. Despite the slower momentum compared to the post-pandemic surge, the segment remains dynamic and is projected to cross 62,000 units by the end of 2025.

The market is valued at approximately USD 1.29 billion in 2024 and is forecast to expand at a compound annual growth rate of 7.4 per cent, reaching USD 2.63 billion by 2034. This growth is driven by rising disposable incomes, an expanding base of high-net-worth individuals, increasing urbanisation, and growing aspirations for premium vehicles amongst India's upper-middle class.

Currently, the Indian luxury car market is dominated by German manufacturers, with Mercedes-Benz leading the segment. The Stuttgart-based marque sold 9,013 units in the first half of 2025 and is projected to finish the year with approximately 19,000 units, commanding a 30.5 per cent market share. BMW follows closely in second position with an estimated 18,500 units and 29.7 per cent market share, having posted four per cent year-on-year growth in FY2025.

Jaguar Land Rover has emerged as a strong third-place contender, recording impressive 40 per cent year-on-year growth in FY2025 to reach 6,183 units in the fiscal year, with projections suggesting approximately 12,400 units for calendar year 2025. The British brand's success has been driven by the Defender SUV, which saw 90 per cent sales growth, and the local assembly of the Range Rover and Range Rover Sport models.

Audi, once a formidable player, has slipped to fourth position with an estimated 8,500 units and 13.6 per cent market share, facing challenges from exchange rate fluctuations and supply constraints. Lexus, Toyota's luxury arm, occupies fifth place with approximately 1,800 units and 2.9 per cent market share, driven primarily by the NX SUV. Volvo and Porsche round out the top seven with approximately 800 and 700 units respectively, holding 1.3 per cent and 1.1 per cent market shares.

SUVs dominate the luxury segment, accounting for 48 per cent of sales, whilst sedans are experiencing a resurgence with younger, driving-enthusiast buyers. Electric vehicles are gaining traction, with luxury EVs growing 66 per cent in the first five months of 2025, now representing 11 per cent of the luxury segment compared to seven per cent in the same period of 2024.

The luxury car market in India remains concentrated amongst the top three players—Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Jaguar Land Rover—who collectively account for approximately 80 per cent of segment sales. Genesis's entry with locally manufactured models could potentially disrupt this established hierarchy, particularly if the brand can deliver German engineering quality at competitive price points whilst leveraging Hyundai's robust service network and customer trust built over three decades in India.