'Customers now want hybrid more than EV': Genesis pushes back electric car only timeline as it brings in fuel-saving tech made popular in the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid and Hyundai Kona 

Hyundai’s luxury offshoot, Genesis, is giving the people what they want … hybrids.

Genesis’ global boss Mike Song, has recently walked back plans by the company to only launch electric cars from 2025 according to UK publication Top Gear.

Instead, the company will build a range of hybrids to complement its growing range of EVs.

“Electrification is still our vision,” said Song. “We will have 100 per cent electrified vehicles, but the market and the customers now want hybrid more than EV, so we really want to bring Genesis hybrid into the market as soon as possible. We will apply it to as many models as possible,” he said.

That’s good news for Australian new-car shoppers who are buying hybrids in record numbers.

Almost 90,000 hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles have found a new home through the first six months of this year, which is more than double sold through the first half of 2023.

Genesis Australia said it is keen to get its hand on the newly announced hybrids. 

Head of Genesis Australia Justin Douglass said: "The recent announcement that Genesis will expand its electric lineup to include hybrid vehicles is exciting news for customers locally and abroad. We are eager to introduce these new powertrains into our range in Australia at the earliest opportunity, enabling us to further expand our growing customer base and meet the needs of our discerning clientele.”

Currently Genesis sells a range of premium sedans and SUVs with the choice of petrol or electric power across most of the range.

Genesis has only been on sale in Australia as a standalone brand for about five years and sales aren’t huge, but the addition of popular hybrid power could deliver a much-needed boost.

The tech is already ready to roll as Genesis’ sister brands Hyundai and Kia have been expanding their hybrid options across their respective ranges recently.

Hyundai now has hybrid versions of the i30 sedan, Kona small SUV, Tucson mid-size SUV and Santa Fe large SUV.