Hyundai reveals ambitious plan at new Bayon launch; Creta to be part of big push as well

Hyundai Motor India is banking on a two-model strategy to strengthen its position in the mid-size SUV market, targeting annual sales of at least 2.5 lakh units of the Creta and newly launched Bayon from 2027, PTI reported on October 26.

Speaking to reporters at the launch of the Bayon, MD and CEO Tarun Garg told the news agency that the company expects the combined volume of the two models to exceed 250,000 units a year, with the target serving as a starting point for further growth. Hyundai aims to retain its leadership in the segment as competition intensifies.

Also read |Hyundai BAYON launched in India: Check price, engine options, tech features & what buyers get with the new SUV


The mid-size utility vehicle category, comprising SUVs and MPVs measuring 4-4.4 metres in length, recorded sales of around 9 lakh units in the last financial year, according to Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers data. The segment accounted for nearly 35% of Hyundai's domestic sales in FY26, with the Creta alone contributing close to 2 lakh units annually over the past two financial years.

Priced from Rs 9.99 lakh ex-showroom, the Bayon will sit between Hyundai's sub-4-metre Venue and the Creta. Its introduction marks the company's effort to broaden its presence in the category with a second product, particularly as Creta sales have recently faced pressure.

Garg said the size of the market offered room for multiple models from the same manufacturer, provided there was sufficient demand. Until now, Hyundai had relied solely on the Creta in this segment. Maruti Suzuki offers three models — Grand Vitara, Victoris and Ertiga — while Tata Motors has the Curvv and Sierra.

The need to strengthen its portfolio comes amid a divergence between Creta sales and overall segment growth. Creta volumes declined more than 9% year-on-year to 89,727 units in the first six months of FY27, even as the segment expanded by over 50%. Garg attributed the model's performance partly to supply constraints affecting diesel variants, which currently have waiting periods exceeding one month.

According to Gaurav Vangaal, associate director for light vehicle production forecasting at Mobility Global, the Bayon was Hyundai's first new nameplate in the mid-size SUV category since the Creta's introduction in 2015.

The objective, Vangaal told PTI, would be to attract additional customers rather than shift existing buyers between Hyundai models. He also cautioned that the segment remained intensely competitive, with major automakers pursuing the same customer base.

Hyundai will offer the Bayon only with petrol and CNG powertrains, ruling out diesel and electric versions. Garg revealed that the company's market research indicated petrol would account for the largest share of demand in this category.

Offering too many powertrain choices within one model could complicate the product range and confuse buyers, Garg said, while diesel would continue in other Hyundai models where customers value its initial torque.

Also read | India's festive auto sales show mixed trends; two-wheelers outperform passenger vehicles: Jefferies

Production of the Bayon will take place at Hyundai's Chennai facility. The model is expected to improve plant utilisation following the relocation of Venue production to Pune.

With the launch, Hyundai's portfolio comprises 10 models: six SUVs, two sedans and two hatchbacks, spanning diesel, petrol, CNG and electric offerings.

Under Hyundai Motor's plans for India (announced in May 2025), 26 models will be introduced in the country by the end of the decade, including 20 internal combustion engine vehicles and six electric vehicles.

The rollout will include new models, full model changes and upgrades to existing products.

Hyundai Motor Company, the South Korean parent, has also committed to investing $15.5 billion here by 2032.