New Delhi, 26 October (H.S.): South Korean automaker Hyundai Motor India Limited (HMIL) aims to sell at least 250,000 units annually of its popular Creta and newly launched Bayon SUVs in 2027, as it seeks to strengthen its position in the mid-size SUV segment.

Speaking on Monday at the launch of the new Bayon, Hyundai Motor India Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Tarun Garg said the company was targeting sales of at least 250,000 units of the Creta and Bayon combined in 2027.

Garg said the target would help Hyundai consolidate its leadership in the mid-size SUV segment. He emphasised that 250,000 units represented a starting point rather than a ceiling, adding that the company intended to sustain its growth momentum.

Asked why Hyundai was offering multiple models in the same segment, Garg cited, among other factors, limited availability of diesel vehicles in the market. He said the diesel version of the Creta had a waiting period of more than a month.

The new Bayon will initially be offered with petrol and CNG powertrain options, according to the information provided by the company. Garg said Hyundai had no plans to introduce diesel or electric versions of the model. He added that the company firmly believed, based on its market research, that petrol-powered vehicles would account for the largest share of sales in the segment.

Hyundai previously had only the Creta in this category. In comparison, Maruti Suzuki offers three models — the Grand Vitara, Victoris and Ertiga — while Tata Motors has the Curvv and Sierra in its portfolio, the company said.

Describing the Bayon as a significant milestone in its innovation journey, Hyundai said the new SUV combined engineering, technology, comfort, safety and performance. The vehicle is now available in showrooms, with an introductory starting ex-showroom price of Rs 9.99 lakh.

Within Hyundai’s product portfolio, the Bayon is positioned between the sub-four-metre Venue and the mid-size Creta. By introducing a second model in the segment, the automaker aims to expand its presence at a time when Creta sales have come under pressure.

According to company figures, Creta sales in the first half of the current financial year 2026-27, covering April to September, declined by more than 9 per cent year-on-year to 89,727 units. This came even as sales across the segment grew by more than 50 per cent, the company said.

Data from the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) show that sales of mid-size utility vehicles, including SUVs and MPVs measuring between four and 4.4 metres in length, stood at approximately nine lakh units in the previous financial year.

Hyundai sold around two lakh vehicles annually in this segment over the past two financial years, relying solely on the Creta. In financial year 2025-26, the segment accounted for approximately 35 per cent of the company’s total domestic sales.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar