After years of evaluating Genesis for India, Hyundai has finally revealed a timeline for the launch of its luxury brand in the country. At its Investors Day presentation, Hyundai confirmed that Genesis’s India launch is due for 2027. But what’s an even bigger highlight is that Hyundai will be assembling the Genesis models locally, and that means pricing could be competitive right from the start.

1. Hyundai’s Genesis models to be locally assembled in India
2. GV80 SUV and coupe-SUV could be the first models for India
3. Genesis’s global line-up comprises both ICE and EV models  

Hyundai Genesis India launch importance

In September, Hyundai president and CEO Jose Munoz highlighted the importance of the Indian market for growth and export opportunities. He also indicated that Genesis’s launch in India would be able to leverage Hyundai’s already existing network and market credibility.

The move is a key part of Genesis’s broader global expansion strategy, aimed at boosting Hyundai’s margins and reducing the luxury marque’s reliance on the US. Genesis has achieved one million cumulative sales globally in a period of eight years and delivered double-digit profit margins in two of those years.

Genesis GV80 likely to be first model for India

GV80 design already patented in India

Genesis’s current global line-up comprises nine models. Six are petrol-powered – the G70, G80 and G90 sedans, the GV70 and GV80 SUVs, and the GV80 coupe-SUV. The rest are all-electric – the GV60 SUV, Electrified G80 and Electrified GV70.

Genesis has already trademarked the design of GV80 in India.

Of these, the GV80 SUV and coupe-SUV duo are likely to make it to India first. SUVs comprise over 70 percent of Hyundai’s India sales, and it is very likely that the brand will continue to leverage the popularity of this body style in the country with the Genesis brand as well. Moreover, Hyundai has already trademarked the design of the GV80 coupe here.

Abroad, the GV80 coupe-SUV gets three engine options – a 304hp 2.5-litre turbo-petrol, a 380hp 3.5-litre turbo-petrol and a 415hp 3.5-litre mild-hybrid turbo-petrol. Meanwhile, the GV80 SUV is available with only the 304hp, 2.5-litre and the 380hp 3.5-litre turbo-petrol engines. All models get all-wheel drive as standard. It remains to be seen which powertrain options Genesis offers here.

Genesis brand positioning in India

Could be pitted against midsize luxury SUVs from Mercedes, BMW 

Given the size of the GV80 duo, the models are likely to rival the Mercedes-Benz GLE, BMW X5 and Audi Q7 in India, right in the thick of the midsize luxury SUV segment. What should give the company some confidence is that the luxury car segment is growing steadily in the country.

At just over 1 percent of the overall passenger vehicle market, India’s luxury car segment is minuscule but growing at a rate faster than the mainstream category, especially so at the higher end of the spectrum. In FY2025, it grew 3.3 percent compared to 2 percent growth seen in the overall industry. Genesis could, therefore, be well poised to ride this momentum if brought here at the right price with the right product strategy.