Korean luxury auto brand Genesis had planned to only offer electric vehicles (EVs) from 2030, but it’s now delayed this all-EV strategy indefinitely.
“Hybrid, EV, ICE – everything is on the table. It’s the customer that just chooses the right fit for their needs,” Genesis’ global boss Mike Song told Australian media.
“2030, 2035… if we think there are customers for ICE, hybrid, then we’ll do it. This is my answer – even 2050.”
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G70
Referring to customer demand for different powertrain types, Mr Song said: “We don’t delete anything.”
He confirmed next-generation Genesis products will be developed not only with electric and hybrid powertrains, but also traditional combustion power.
“That’s the plan, because still there are markets or there are customers who want only the ICE, then we’ll do it,” he said.
In announcing its EV-only goal back in 2021, Genesis confirmed it wouldn’t introduce any new combustion-powered models after 2025.
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G70
This 2030 goal also included hydrogen fuel-cell electric vehicles (FCEVs), which Genesis appeared to quietly remove from its plans the following year.
Subsequently, Genesis announced it would introduce hybrids – a technology it had previously intended to skip over in favour of EVs.
“The home market in Korea, also our main market in America, the need for [hybrids] is growing,” said Mr Song.
“We still believe one day in the future, we don’t know when, it will be 100 per cent EVs. I don’t think I have that much foresight talent to tell you whether it’s five years or 10 years.”
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Updated Electrified G80
The first hybrid Genesis models are expected to be revealed this year, with the GV70 and G80 reportedly in line for the petrol-electric technology.
Genesis plans to introduce hybrid models in Australia, where it already offers a mix of traditional combustion-powered vehicles (G70, G80, GV70, GV80) and electric vehicles (Electrified G80, GV60, Electrified GV70).
“The earliest opportunity for hybrids [in Australia] appears to be around 2027,” said Genesis Motors Australia boss Justin Douglass.
In some markets with tougher regulations, Genesis will follow a different electrification timeline.
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Updated GV60
For example, Genesis in the UK announced this week it would axe all its combustion-powered vehicles in favour of an EV-only lineup, albeit with hybrids to join the range at a later date.
Genesis Motors Australia has made no such announcement about axing combustion-powered vehicles, which accounted for 93.5 per cent of its sales in 2024.
Upgraded versions of its existing EV trio have been revealed, with the updated Electrified GV70 and Electrified G80 due on sale here during the first half of 2025 and the facelifted GV60 following in the third quarter.
Genesis is far from the only premium brand to adjust its EV goals.
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Updated Electrified GV70
Volvo also set a goal in 2021 to go EV-only by 2030, but last year confirmed it’s now targeting 90 to 100 per cent electrified vehicle sales by 2030 – a target that now includes plug-in hybrids.
Also in 2021, Mercedes-Benz said EVs would account for half of its sales by 2025, but last year it pushed back this target to 2030 and included PHEVs in the total. It had also previously announced plans to go EV-only in certain regions by 2030.
Cadillac leadership also recently walked back its 2030 EV-only sales goal and, like Genesis, cited customer demand as the reason.
