Hyundai Plans Over 100 New Models and Expands EV, SDV, and Robotaxi Business

Hyundai Motor presented its growth strategy through 2030 at its 2026 CEO Investor Day. A key pillar is an extensive product offensive. By 2030, Hyundai aims to launch more than 100 new or refreshed vehicles worldwide. This rollout includes 58 market launches in North America, 49 in Korea, 41 in Europe, 26 in India, and 22 in China. 

First EREV Models to Launch in 2027

Extended Range Electric Vehicles (EREVs) will play an important role moving forward. The first model is set to hit the market in the first half of 2027 and will offer a total driving range of more than 600 miles (around 965 kilometers). For the Santa Fe EREV, Hyundai plans to combine an electric drive system with an additional range-extender setup. The vehicle will be manufactured at the company's U.S. plant in Alabama.

Hyundai has developed its own high-performance battery cells for these new EREVs. Compared to the high-nickel cells used previously, they are expected to deliver more than double the power output and reduce charging times by 40 percent. At the same time, Hyundai states that the EREV system requires less than half the battery capacity of a comparable battery-electric vehicle. Starting in 2027, new electric vehicles will also feature mid-nickel NCM cells, which are projected to cut battery costs by around 30 percent.

Hyundai Expands Robotaxi Business with Waymo

Autonomous driving is also set for significant expansion. The first IONIQ 5 vehicles for Waymo's robotaxi fleet are scheduled for delivery in the fourth quarter of 2026. The vehicles will be produced at the Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America in Georgia. Beginning as early as 2027, they are expected to support the international expansion of robotaxi services.

In parallel, Hyundai continues to advance its own automated driving technology. Before the end of 2026, the autonomous driving AI "Atria AI" will begin gathering data on public roads in Korea. In partnership with NVIDIA, the company plans to introduce Level 2+ features in its first mass-produced Software-Defined Vehicle (SDV) in 2028. Over the long term, the technology will be incrementally upgraded to Level 4.

Beginning in 2029, Hyundai also intends to bring a 100-megawatt AI data center online with capacity for over 50,000 GPUs. The data processed there will accelerate the development of SDVs and autonomous driving features, among other applications.

Beyond the vehicle business, Hyundai plans to step up commercialization efforts in robotics. Boston Dynamics' humanoid robot, Atlas, is scheduled to be deployed at the Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America starting in 2028.