It’s no secret that automakers are making the push toward the electrification of vehicles, and finally, plug-in hybrids are starting to make way in the eyes of the consumers. According to Edmunds, plug-in vehicle sales have jumped 40 percent in the first quarter of 2016 compared to the same period last year. With plug-ins garnering that kind of consumer interest, it’s no surprise that Hyundai’s luxurious Genesis brand is looking to add new plug-in variants to its lineup.
For a brand that’s just barely spread its wings, it might come off as being a quick move, but other luxury brands like Mercedes and BMW are already in the plug-in game. Dave Zuchowski, the CEO of Hyundai Motor America, says that the new plug-in hybrids will be an intermediate step before hydrogen fuel cell vehicles begin to make a big foothold in the market. When speaking of these new plug-in models, Zuchowski said, “Some of those [plug-in hybrids] will take the form of the Genesis side of our business. We believe alternative-propulsion engines are going to be really important – even more important in the luxury market than they are in the mainstream market.”
At this point, Hyundai and Genesis have remained quiet about what models will be the first to get a battery back and plug-in port. We know that the first vehicles will be on sale soon, and will be followed by a compact sedan and a set of crossovers by the time 2020 rolls around. The chances are that the brand won’t take that long to present a plug-in variant of at least the G80, if not the G90, and one of the future crossovers will be another likely candidate.
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