Inframe News – Hyundai is making a major push into the U.S. hybrid market as demand for fuel-efficient vehicles continues to grow. The South Korean automaker says it plans to introduce more than 100 new or refreshed models globally by 2030. Of those, 58 are planned for North America.
The company expects hybrids to become a much bigger part of its U.S. business over the next few years. Hyundai plans to introduce 10 new hybrid models in North America by 2030. It also wants hybrids to account for around half of its regional sales by that time.
Hyundai’s hybrid sales in the U.S. are already moving quickly. Sales increased 71% year over year during the second quarter of 2026. The company says higher fuel prices have helped push more American buyers toward hybrid vehicles.
The push puts Toyota directly in Hyundai’s sights. Toyota has long held a strong position in the U.S. hybrid market, while Hyundai has been expanding its own hybrid range across SUVs, sedans and premium vehicles. Hyundai now wants to use a wider lineup to gain more ground in the same market.
Hyundai is also planning to enter several vehicle segments where it currently has a smaller presence. The company says it will enter 18 new segments, including the midsize pickup market. Some of the new vehicles will be produced in the United States.
One of the key vehicles in the plan is the Santa Fe EREV, or extended-range electric vehicle. Hyundai says the model will combine an electric drivetrain with a gasoline engine that works as a generator. Production is scheduled to begin in Alabama during the first half of 2027, with a targeted total range of more than 600 miles.
The company is also increasing its North American production capacity. Hyundai plans to add 500,000 units of production capacity in the region by 2030. It also wants to increase local parts sourcing from 60% to 80%.
The changes come as Hyundai deals with a 15% U.S. tariff on automobiles imported from South Korea. Building more vehicles locally and sourcing more parts within North America could reduce the company’s exposure to those trade costs. Hyundai’s factories in Alabama and Georgia will play a bigger role in the strategy.
Hyundai is not abandoning electric vehicles as it expands its hybrid lineup. The company still expects electrified vehicles, including hybrids and EVs, to make up 60% of global sales by 2030. In Europe, Hyundai is targeting 420,000 annual EV sales by the same year.
The automaker is also targeting higher profitability as the product expansion rolls out. Hyundai raised its 2030 operating profit margin target to above 9%, while keeping its goal of selling 5.55 million vehicles globally by 2030. The company expects North America to remain one of its major growth markets as the new hybrid models arrive.
