Hyundai Motor India has set a target of selling at least 250,000 units of its Creta and the newly introduced Bayon by 2027, the company’s Managing Director and CEO Tarun Garg stated. He emphasized that these two models will collectively help Hyundai achieve over 250,000 annual sales, reinforcing its position as the leader in the mid-size SUV category.
Growth in the Mid-Size SUV Market
The mid-size SUV and MPV segment, encompassing vehicles measuring between 4 to 4.4 meters, recorded approximately 900,000 units sold in the previous fiscal year, according to data from the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM).
Hyundai sold close to 200,000 units annually in this segment in the last two financial years with Creta alone, and the segment accounted for close to 35% of Hyundai’s total domestic sales in financial year 2026.
Introduction of the New Bayon SUV
The Bayon, priced starting at ₹9.99 lakh ex-showroom, is strategically placed between Hyundai’s sub-4-meter compact SUV, the Venue, and the mid-size Creta in its lineup.
Tarun Garg explained that the segment’s expanding size and demand justify multiple Hyundai models, stating, “It depends on the size of the segment. If there is an opportunity, then why not?”
While Creta deliveries dropped over 9% year-on-year to 89,727 units in the first six months of financial year 2027, the industry’s segment volume jumped over 50%. Garg attributed the Creta’s decline to limited diesel variant availability, noting a waiting period exceeding one month for those models.
Analyst Gaurav Vangaal, Associate Director for Light Vehicle Production Forecasting at Mobility Global, highlighted the Bayon’s significance, calling it Hyundai’s first new model in the mid-size SUV category since the Creta’s launch in 2015. His assessment noted, “The goal is clear: win incremental buyers instead of shuffling them between Hyundai’s own models,” said Gaurav Vangaal, Associate Director for Light Vehicle Production Forecasting at Mobility.
The Bayon will exclusively offer petrol and CNG powertrains, omitting diesel and electric options. Hyundai’s research suggests, “We believe very strongly that based on our market research, this is a segment where the maximum sales are going to come from petrol,” Garg explained.
Production of the Bayon will take place at Hyundai’s Chennai facility, optimizing plant capacity after shifting Venue manufacturing to Pune.
In May 2025, Hyundai Motor announced plans to introduce 26 models in India by decade’s end, including 20 internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles and six electric vehicles (EVs).
The South Korean automaker’s parent company, Hyundai Motor Company, has pledged a $15.5 billion investment in India by 2032.
