Far from triumphalist rhetoric, Hyundai has opted for a realistic message when presenting its forecasts for 2026. The company expects to maintain its global sales volume at levels similar to the previous year, with a slight improvement that would serve to consolidate its position among the world's major manufacturers, rather than to lead an aggressive expansion.

According to its estimates, Hyundai expects to sell more than 4.15 million vehicles worldwide during 2026. This figure represents a slight increase compared to 2025, a year that closed with more than 4.13 million units sold.

The balance reflects stable performance in a context where many manufacturers have had to lower their expectations due to slowing demand and increased competition.

The company itself acknowledges that the current environment is not easy. Geopolitical tensions, persistent inflation in some markets, and an increasingly intense price war, especially in the electrified vehicle sector, create a scenario where maintaining volume is, in itself, a significant achievement.

The growing importance of international markets

One of the pillars of Hyundai's 2026 strategy remains its strong presence outside of South Korea. The brand anticipates that more than 3.45 million vehicles sold during the year will be in international markets, a figure slightly higher than the more than 3.42 million units achieved in 2025.

This approach responds to the need to offset the maturity of some traditional markets with opportunities in regions where electrification is progressing at different paces.

In 2025, Hyundai's international sales registered a slight decrease of 0.3% compared to 2024, a contained decline considering the global context and the pressure exerted by new players.

especially Chinese manufacturers with very competitive offers.

Hyundai believes that its geographic diversification and broad model portfolio, which includes everything from efficient combustion engine vehicles to hybrids and pure electric vehicles, allows it to better cushion the fluctuations in demand in each region.

South Korea as an anchor of stability

Although growth is mainly sought abroad, the local market continues to play a key role in the group's stability. By 2026, Hyundai expects to reach around 700,000 registrations in South Korea, a figure slightly lower than the 712,954 units sold in 2025. Last year, domestic sales grew by 1.1% year-on-year, a performance that helped offset weakness observed in some international markets. Beyond volume, South Korea remains strategic for Hyundai as a testing ground for new technologies, electrified powertrains, and connectivity solutions that are later rolled out to other markets. Electrification, Tariffs, and Fierce Competition: Electrification is central to Hyundai's roadmap, but also one of the areas where competition is most intense. The company's CEO, Ju-yung Chung, openly acknowledged the complexity of the current industry landscape and emphasized the importance of strategic flexibility. “When conditions become complicated and competition is fierce, our greatest strength will be our ability to continuously evolve while staying close to our customers,” the executive stated. Adding to this challenge is the growing tariff pressure in various markets. To mitigate its impact, Hyundai is accelerating the localization of production, adjusting its supply chain, and reviewing its operational structure. The company has also initiated an internal transformation affecting both its work processes and its leadership style, with the aim of gaining agility and responding more quickly to market changes. Hyundai's forecasts for 2026 paint a picture of moderate growth, consistent with an industry that appears to have entered a phase of consolidation after years of rapid expansion. Instead of pursuing ambitious volume increases, the brand is focused on strengthening its competitiveness, protecting margins, and advancing its transition to electrified mobility.They allow it to better cushion the fluctuations in demand in each region.

South Korea as an anchor of stability

Although growth is mainly sought abroad, the local market continues to play a key role in the group's stability. By 2026, Hyundai expects to reach around 700,000 registrations in South Korea, a figure slightly lower than the 712,954 units sold in 2025. Last year, domestic sales grew by 1.1% year-on-year, a performance that helped offset weakness observed in some international markets. Beyond volume, South Korea remains strategic for Hyundai as a testing ground for new technologies, electrified powertrains, and connectivity solutions that are later rolled out to other markets. Electrification, Tariffs, and Fierce Competition: Electrification is central to Hyundai's roadmap, but also one of the areas where competition is most intense. The company's CEO, Ju-yung Chung, openly acknowledged the complexity of the current industry landscape and emphasized the importance of strategic flexibility. “When conditions become complicated and competition is fierce, our greatest strength will be our ability to continuously evolve while staying close to our customers,” the executive stated. Adding to this challenge is the growing tariff pressure in various markets. To mitigate its impact, Hyundai is accelerating the localization of production, adjusting its supply chain, and reviewing its operational structure. The company has also initiated an internal transformation affecting both its work processes and its leadership style, with the aim of gaining agility and responding more quickly to market changes. Hyundai's forecasts for 2026 paint a picture of moderate growth, consistent with an industry that appears to have entered a phase of consolidation after years of rapid expansion. Instead of pursuing ambitious volume increases, the brand is focused on strengthening its competitiveness, protecting margins, and advancing its transition to electrified mobility.They allow it to better cushion the fluctuations in demand in each region.

South Korea as an anchor of stability

Although growth is mainly sought abroad, the local market continues to play a key role in the group's stability. By 2026, Hyundai expects to reach around 700,000 registrations in South Korea, a figure slightly lower than the 712,954 units sold in 2025. Last year, domestic sales grew by 1.1% year-on-year, a performance that helped offset weakness observed in some international markets. Beyond volume, South Korea remains strategic for Hyundai as a testing ground for new technologies, electrified powertrains, and connectivity solutions that are later rolled out to other markets. Electrification, Tariffs, and Fierce Competition: Electrification is central to Hyundai's roadmap, but also one of the areas where competition is most intense. The company's CEO, Ju-yung Chung, openly acknowledged the complexity of the current industry landscape and emphasized the importance of strategic flexibility. “When conditions become complicated and competition is fierce, our greatest strength will be our ability to continuously evolve while staying close to our customers,” the executive stated. Adding to this challenge is the growing tariff pressure in various markets. To mitigate its impact, Hyundai is accelerating the localization of production, adjusting its supply chain, and reviewing its operational structure. The company has also initiated an internal transformation affecting both its work processes and its leadership style, with the aim of gaining agility and responding more quickly to market changes. Hyundai's forecasts for 2026 paint a picture of moderate growth, consistent with an industry that appears to have entered a phase of consolidation after years of rapid expansion. Instead of pursuing ambitious volume increases, the brand is focused on strengthening its competitiveness, protecting margins, and advancing its transition to electrified mobility.This performance helped offset the weakness observed in some international markets. Beyond volume, South Korea remains strategic for Hyundai as a testing ground for new technologies, electrified propulsion systems, and connectivity solutions that are later rolled out to other markets. Electrification, Tariffs, and Fierce Competition: Electrification is central to Hyundai's roadmap, but also one of the areas where competition is most intense. The company's CEO, Ju-yung Chung, openly acknowledged the complexity of the current industry landscape and emphasized the importance of strategic flexibility. "When conditions become complicated and competition is fierce, our greatest strength will be our ability to continuously evolve while staying close to our customers," he stated. Adding to this challenge is the growing tariff pressure in various markets. To mitigate its impact, Hyundai is accelerating the localization of production, adjusting its supply chain, and reviewing its operational structure. The company has also begun an internal transformation affecting both its work processes and leadership style, aiming to gain agility and respond more quickly to market changes. Hyundai's forecasts for 2026 paint a picture of moderate growth, consistent with an industry that appears to have entered a consolidation phase after years of rapid expansion. Instead of pursuing ambitious volume increases, the brand is focused on strengthening its competitiveness, protecting margins, and advancing its transition to electrified mobility.This performance helped offset the weakness observed in some international markets. Beyond volume, South Korea remains strategic for Hyundai as a testing ground for new technologies, electrified propulsion systems, and connectivity solutions that are later rolled out to other markets. Electrification, Tariffs, and Fierce Competition: Electrification is central to Hyundai's roadmap, but also one of the areas where competition is most intense. The company's CEO, Ju-yung Chung, openly acknowledged the complexity of the current industry landscape and emphasized the importance of strategic flexibility. "When conditions become complicated and competition is fierce, our greatest strength will be our ability to continuously evolve while staying close to our customers," he stated. Adding to this challenge is the growing tariff pressure in various markets. To mitigate its impact, Hyundai is accelerating the localization of production, adjusting its supply chain, and reviewing its operational structure. The company has also begun an internal transformation affecting both its work processes and leadership style, aiming to gain agility and respond more quickly to market changes. Hyundai's forecasts for 2026 paint a picture of moderate growth, consistent with an industry that appears to have entered a consolidation phase after years of rapid expansion. Instead of pursuing ambitious volume increases, the brand is focused on strengthening its competitiveness, protecting margins, and advancing its transition to electrified mobility.Hyundai is accelerating the localization of production, adjusting its supply chain, and reviewing its operational structure. The company has also begun an internal transformation affecting both its work processes and leadership style, aiming to gain agility and respond more quickly to market changes. Hyundai's forecasts for 2026 paint a picture of moderate growth, consistent with an industry that appears to have entered a consolidation phase after years of rapid expansion. Instead of pursuing ambitious volume increases, the brand is focused on strengthening its competitiveness, protecting margins, and advancing its transition to electrified mobility.Hyundai is accelerating the localization of production, adjusting its supply chain, and reviewing its operational structure. The company has also begun an internal transformation affecting both its work processes and leadership style, aiming to gain agility and respond more quickly to market changes. Hyundai's forecasts for 2026 paint a picture of moderate growth, consistent with an industry that appears to have entered a consolidation phase after years of rapid expansion. Instead of pursuing ambitious volume increases, the brand is focused on strengthening its competitiveness, protecting margins, and advancing its transition to electrified mobility.