Genesis, the luxury marque of South Korea’s Hyundai
HYMTF,
will build its last new internal combustion engine by 2025. After that year, all new Genesis vehicles will have electric or hydrogen fuel-cell powertrains. By 2030, the company will phase out the last of its gas-powered vehicles and be 100% emissions-free.
Four cars, four SUVs
That’s the heart of a plan unveiled yesterday. The road map will see eight new Genesis electric vehicles (EVs) — four SUVs and four cars — make up the Genesis lineup. We’ve seen three of them before.
The Genesis G80 Electrified is set to reach the market late this year as a 2022 model and the first Genesis EV. It’s essentially the existing G80 luxury sedan, adapted to an electric powertrain. Genesis has said the G80 Electrified will have a range of around 265 miles, though the EPA hasn’t weighed in on that claim. We expect to see a price of around $60,000. It boasts an interior lined in vegan leather and reclaimed wood.
See: Luxury sedans compared: The 2021 Genesis G90 vs. the Maserati Quattroporte
The GV60 SUV made its first appearance in August. It stands apart from the growing small electric SUV field with eccentric styling and a bright color palette inside and out. In South Korea, the GV60 will be capable of wireless charging. It isn’t clear whether Genesis plans to bring that technology to the U.S.
An electrified version of the GV70 SUV is also on the way.
The rest of the lineup is shaded in mystery. Literally. Genesis released a photo of all eight planned EVs (presumably in prototype form) hidden mostly by darkness, shining their signature dual-line headlights. We’re almost certain we see a version of the gorgeous Genesis X Concept coupe in that lineup, but Genesis hasn’t confirmed whether that car will ever be mass-produced.
Electric-only targets are an auto industry trend
A 2025 deadline to stop designing gas-powered cars would be the auto industry’s most aggressive target. Only Audi comes close, so far, with a 2026 end date for new gas- and diesel-powered vehicles. Alfa Romeo may be close behind with a 2027 target.
Also see: Comparing the 2021 Genesis G80 to the 2021 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
But a 2030 deadline to sell nothing but electric cars has almost become common. Volvo
VLVLY,
and Mini have each made the same pledge. Mercedes-Benz plans to be all-electric in markets that have the infrastructure to support that by 2030.
Other automakers aren’t far behind. General Motors
GM,
has pledged a mostly-EV lineup by 2035.
And, though parent company Hyundai hasn’t set an end date for building internal combustion engines, the company has laid out plans for 23 EVs by 2025.
This story originally ran on KBB.com.
This post was originally published on Market Watch
