- Extended-range electric vehicle powertrains will arrive in Hyundai and Genesis showrooms as soon as 2027.
- The company unveiled its plans to introduce EREV variants of two SUVs, as well as expand its market share of traditional hybrids at today’s 2026 CEO Investor Day event.
- An EREV version of the three-row Santa Fe SUV will come first and will be built in the United States.
Hyundai Motor Group detailed plans to introduce extended-range electric vehicle (EREV) powertrains to its lineup at its 2026 CEO Investor Day presentation in Seoul, South Korea. Both the Hyundai and Genesis brands will get EREV powertrains soon, with the first two launching in the first half of 2027.
An EREV is a type of plug-in hybrid powertrain that utilizes a smaller battery pack than a traditional EV, but instead uses an onboard gasoline engine to provide additional range by kicking on to recharge the battery once it is depleted.
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The first of Hyundai’s efforts will be a variant of the Santa Fe SUV, and its new powertrain will feature a pair of electric motors that are expected to drive both the front and rear axles for all-wheel drive. The company claims a combined range of over 600 miles and acceleration similar to a fully electric vehicle.
Genesis will also benefit from this new strategy. While a GV80 Hybrid was announced just last week, that model will receive a more traditional hybrid powertrain. The first Genesis model to receive the EREV treatment will likely be the compact GV70 SUV. It’s unclear if the Santa Fe and GV70 EREV models will use the same powertrain or if the two will have some differentiation. The Genesis version is said to have a slightly longer combined range of 640 miles.
The Santa Fe EREV will be manufactured in the United States, likely on the same Alabama assembly line as the gas-powered and traditional hybrid variants. The GV70 is currently built in Ulsan, South Korea.
EREV is considered a bridge to full electrification, and could help get more electric vehicles into the garages of consumers who would otherwise object to a full EV due to range anxiety.
Stellantis has its own EREV powertrain in development, expected to launch in the Jeep Grand Wagoneer, followed by the Ram 1500 REV pickup truck. Ford is said to be working on an EREV pickup truck to replace the discontinued F-150 Lightning. Upstart automaker Scout is also exploring EREV powertrains as an option in its upcoming Traveler SUV and Terra pickup truck models.
Broader Hybrid Offerings and Expansion to New Niches
Traditional gas-electric powertrains will remain an important part of the company’s offerings. There are plans to introduce more than ten new hybrid models by 2030, and half of North American sales are expected to be hybrids by that time. Production capacity at Hyundai’s North American plants will also expand by an additional 500,000 units by 2030.
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Hyundai’s presentation also briefly touched on its plans to expand into new North American market niches, including pickup truck and body-on-frame SUV models for the Hyundai brand. A new body-on-frame platform is said to be on the way, previewed by the Boulder concept at this year’s New York Auto Show.
A luxury off-roader for Genesis is almost certainly being considered, and while plans for Kia were not detailed throughout today’s presentation— Kia is treated as a separate entity despite the close relationship to Hyundai and Genesis—it’s safe to assume that there are plans for it to also launch similar vehicles.
Drew Dorian is a lifelong car enthusiast who has also held a wide variety of consumer-focused positions throughout his career, ranging from financial counselor to auto salesperson. He has dreamed of becoming a Car and Driver editor since he was 11 years old—a dream that was realized when he joined the staff in April 2016. He’s a born-and-raised Michigander and learned to drive on a 1988 Pontiac Grand Am. His automotive interests run the gamut from convertibles and camper vans to sports cars and luxury SUVs.