{"id":70095,"date":"2025-09-16T02:18:06","date_gmt":"2025-09-16T06:18:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/hyundai-renews-ice-models-as-electric-car-demand-slows-in-europe\/"},"modified":"2025-09-16T02:18:06","modified_gmt":"2025-09-16T06:18:06","slug":"hyundai-renews-ice-models-as-electric-car-demand-slows-in-europe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/hyundai-renews-ice-models-as-electric-car-demand-slows-in-europe\/","title":{"rendered":"Hyundai renews ICE models as electric car demand slows in Europe"},"content":{"rendered":"

Why Is Hyundai Doubling Down on Both Electric and Traditional Cars Right Now?<\/p>\n

If you\u2019ve been following the car market lately, you\u2019ve probably noticed that electric vehicles (EVs) are everywhere\u2014at least in the headlines. But here\u2019s the twist: Hyundai isn\u2019t putting all its eggs in the EV basket just yet. Instead, the brand is taking a more balanced approach, investing in electric, hybrid, and good old-fashioned internal combustion engine (ICE) cars. Why? Because the EV revolution, especially in Europe, is moving a bit slower than many expected.<\/p>\n

Xavier Martinet, Hyundai\u2019s new CEO for Europe, believes there\u2019s untapped potential for the brand in the region. While Hyundai is a household name in places like the US and India, its European presence hasn\u2019t quite reached the same heights. Martinet\u2019s strategy is simple but smart: don\u2019t shut out any customer. Whether you want a zippy electric city car or a reliable petrol hatchback, Hyundai wants you to find it in their lineup.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s Behind Hyundai\u2019s Focus on Fleets and Small Cars?<\/p>\n

One area where Hyundai sees big room for growth is fleet sales. Right now, Hyundai\u2019s private sales outpace its fleet business, but Martinet wants to change that. Why? Fleet sales\u2014think company cars, rental agencies, and government contracts\u2014are a huge part of the European market. They\u2019re steady, often large-volume, and can help boost a brand\u2019s visibility on the road.<\/p>\n

Then there\u2019s the B-segment. If you\u2019re not a car industry insider, that\u2019s basically the small car category\u2014think compact hatchbacks and crossovers. In Europe, these cars are everywhere, from city streets to country lanes. Hyundai\u2019s refreshed i20 and Bayon models are aimed squarely at this segment, and there\u2019s even a production version of the Concept Three on the way. Martinet sees this as a golden opportunity to win over new customers and grab a bigger slice of the market.<\/p>\n

How Is Hyundai Responding to Slower EV Adoption in Europe?<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s be honest: the EV transition hasn\u2019t been as fast as many automakers (and governments) hoped. According to the European Automobile Manufacturers\u2019 Association, EVs made up about 14.6% of new car sales in the EU in 2023\u2014a record, but still a minority. And the pace is heavily influenced by regulations and incentives, not just consumer demand.<\/p>\n

Martinet is candid about this challenge. He points out that while Hyundai will soon offer a full range of EVs\u2014from the city-sized Inster to the upcoming Ioniq 9 SUV\u2014many customers still want hybrids or ICE vehicles. That\u2019s why the new i20 and Bayon will come with hybrid options. Hyundai\u2019s philosophy? Give people what they want, and let them choose the powertrain that fits their life.<\/p>\n

What Does This Mean for Hyundai\u2019s Future Lineup?<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re shopping for a new car in the next few years, expect to see a lot of choice from Hyundai. The brand is committed to offering something for everyone\u2014whether you\u2019re ready to go fully electric, prefer the flexibility of a hybrid, or just want a straightforward petrol engine. This isn\u2019t just about hedging bets; it\u2019s about being prepared for whatever direction the market takes.<\/p>\n

Martinet puts it plainly: if the EV transition stalls, Hyundai won\u2019t be caught flat-footed. By maintaining a strong presence in every segment, the company can weather market volatility and keep its customers happy, no matter what the future holds.<\/p>\n

Why Is Design Still a Top Priority for Hyundai?<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s something that often gets overlooked in the powertrain debate: design. Martinet believes that bold, distinctive design is one of the best ways to stand out in a crowded market. Hyundai isn\u2019t just competing on technology or price\u2014it wants its cars to turn heads and make an impression.<\/p>\n

This focus on design isn\u2019t just about aesthetics, either. In a world where many cars can feel interchangeable, a unique look and feel can be the difference between being someone\u2019s first choice or their second (and as Martinet says, \u201cIf you\u2019re the second preferred vehicle from customers, you\u2019re the first one to not buy\u201d). Hyundai\u2019s recent models, with their sharp lines and futuristic touches, show the brand isn\u2019t afraid to push boundaries.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s the Takeaway for Car Buyers and the Industry?<\/p>\n

If there\u2019s one thing to learn from Hyundai\u2019s strategy, it\u2019s that flexibility is key in today\u2019s car market. The company isn\u2019t betting everything on one technology or trend. Instead, it\u2019s listening to customers, watching the data, and staying nimble. Whether you\u2019re a fleet manager looking for reliable options, a city driver eyeing a compact hybrid, or an early adopter eager for the latest EV, Hyundai wants to have something ready for you.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a reminder that, despite all the hype, the future of driving isn\u2019t set in stone. Consumer preferences, regulations, and technology are all evolving\u2014and the smartest brands are those that can adapt on the fly. Hyundai\u2019s approach might not be the flashiest, but it\u2019s grounded, practical, and, above all, customer-focused. And in a market as unpredictable as Europe\u2019s, that might just be the winning formula.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\"Hyundai<\/a><\/p>\n

Brand plans to go big on fleets and small cars to hedge its bets as uptake of electric cars slows<\/p>\n

\n

Hyundai will continue to launch new cars across all fuel types\u00a0and not shut itself out of any part of the market, its top executive in Europe has confirmed.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Xavier Martinet, who took the CEO role at Hyundai<\/a> Europe in January after moving from Dacia<\/a>, is \u201cconvinced there is a huge untapped potential\u201d in Hyundai in Europe \u2013\u00a0something proven by the fact that the brand\u2019s performance in the region lags behind that of other major markets in the world, such as the US and India.<\/p>\n

Specific areas of improvement that Hyundai needs to \u201cseize\u201d include its performance in fleet sales, which lag that of its private sales, and in greater penetration of the B-segment.<\/p>\n

Heavily refreshed versions of the compact\u00a0i20<\/a> and Bayon<\/a>\u00a0are planned to help boost sales here, alongside a production version of the recently unveiled Concept Three<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThe B-segment has a huge volume in Europe and we\u2019ll be launching three new products,” said Martinet. “There\u2019s clearly an opportunity to grab some market share and conquer new customers.\u201d<\/p>\n

He said that while Hyundai will be \u201cthe only brand in Europe\u00a0to have a complete range of EVs across segments\u201d,\u00a0from the Inster<\/a> city car to the\u00a0Ioniq 9<\/a> full-size SUV once the Concept Three makes production next year, it still needs\u00a0to invest in hybrids and ICE cars, due to the slower than expected uptake of EVs in Europe.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf customers want an EV, they will find anything they want in the Hyundai line-up,” Martinet said. “But if the EV transition doesn\u2019t happen as fast as we all thought, we need to be able to offer what customers want in the non-EV market.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThe renewal of the i20 and renewal of Bayon will have a hybrid offer, as this is what customers are looking for. We\u2019re ready and willing to give customers what they want [with multiple powertrain options] and let them choose.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Hyundai<\/p>\n

This is particularly important in the here and now, said Martinet, as the evolution of EV sales figures is\u00a0\u201cmore regulation-driven than customer-driven, and that\u2019s the major issue we\u2019re facing\u201d.<\/p>\n

He added: \u201cThis is why we need to propose something to all the customers in the market. If I have market share on EV, hybrid and ICE, I\u2019m hedging myself against volatility on the market.\u201d<\/p>\n

More broadly, Martinet said Hyundai will continue to invest heavily in design and push the design boundaries of its car as design is one of the best ways to \u201cdifferentiate yourself positively\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you\u2019re the second preferred vehicle from customers, you\u2019re the first one to not buy.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":70096,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"Default","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,137],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-70095","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-featured","category-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/70095","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=70095"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/70095\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/70096"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=70095"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=70095"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=70095"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}