Although, according to ACEA data, it has accumulated sales of 425,899 cars in the European Union, Xavier Martinet, the head of Hyundai in the Old Continent, acknowledged that his brand can do an even better job in the region, aiming for a greater market presence, a goal supported by a new product offensive for the next eighteen months. According to statements made to the media at Hyundai’s annual press conference in Europe, Xavier Martinet believes in the “strong foundations of Hyundai, but that does not mean the work can slow down. I believe we can do much better than we are doing now. The market share in Europe is below the share in the global market, so we are trying to invest more to make a difference. I intend to take advantage of these opportunities”.
Thus, according to the planned product strategy, it is expected that by 2027, all models currently sold in Europe will have at least one electrified version. Another model in which Xavier Martinet places great hopes is the new compact Ioniq 3, a 100% electric car (anticipated by the Concept Three prototype) that has an official presentation scheduled for next April. In addition to this important launch, Hyundai’s product plan also includes the unveiling of new generations of the Tucson, Bayon, and Kauai SUVs, as well as the i20 hatchback.
When asked about the slowdown of electrification in the European market, the top official of the brand in the region has no doubts that this is the right path for the much-desired reduction of emissions: “Politically, I want to see stability. We know we have to go in this direction. But different groups continue to have different priorities. Electrification is happening, so we need to be prepared. We have the capacity to invest in research and development of different solutions for different markets”, believes Xavier Martinet, relying on the global dimension of his brand to achieve this flexibility.
