Customers now demand hybrids more than EVs – Genesis
In September 2021, Genesis was among the manufacturers that announced electrification plans, where every new model will receive a full electric version starting in 2025.
However, due to the weakening demand for EVs, the South Korean automotive manufacturer has conducted a review of their plans, with their current strategy being to launch as many hybrid vehicle models as possible.
In an interview with Top Gear, Genesis global boss Mike Song stated, “Many customers now prefer hybrids over EVs.”
He further expressed, “Electrification still remains our vision. We will have 100 percent electrified vehicles, but due to the market and customers leaning towards hybrids more than EVs, we will introduce more Genesis hybrid models as quickly as possible.”
Meanwhile, head of vehicle development unit Tyrone Johnson added, “We are constantly re-evaluating what we do, and sometimes you need to make slight adjustments.”
“As mentioned by Mike, the EV strategy remains strong, but you shouldn’t be rigid about specific things when the situation changes, you need to react, and that’s what should happen,” he continued.
In the interview, Mike Song did not disclose details about the specific hybrid powertrain that will be used in Genesis vehicles.
However, it is certain that in the future, Genesis customers will be presented with more options of hybrid vehicles to suit their individual needs, and not limited to purely battery electric vehicle (BEV) models.
