GaadiWaadi –
Hybrid cars flew under the radar in India for well over a decade, but the tide is finally turning; as many as eight new brands are set to start launching hybrid cars later this decade
It was back in June 2008 when Honda launched the Civic Hybrid as the first hybrid car in India, but that was an expensive CBU. It took India nearly 14 years to get its first locally manufactured hybrid car, which also happened to be a Honda – the City Hybrid, launched in April 2022. That said, it is also quite expensive, with key components being imported, and it hasn’t found many takers so far.
In contrast, the Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder Hybrid and Maruti Grand Vitara Hybrid that arrived in September 2022 and the Toyota Innova Hycross Hybrid that followed in December of the same year have been taken quite well. These models appear to have instilled a newfound confidence among automakers to introduce more hybrid cars. Then there’s also the looming threat of new emission norms that will pressure them to find an alternative to diesel engines by the next decade. Pure electric powertrains can’t be the only solution for a variety of reasons, and that’s where hybrid systems step in.
Kia will be the next brand to start selling hybrid models in India. The company has chosen the next-gen Seltos to begin its hybrid innings in our market. It is expected to unveil the Seltos Hybrid (codename: SP3) later this year and launch its Indian version (codename: SP3i) sometime in 2026.
Also Read: Kia, MG & Nissan To Light Up MPV Segment Soon In India – Key Info
As early as the beginning of 2027, Renault will launch the Duster Hybrid as its first hybrid model in India. The company should introduce a hybrid variant of its upcoming seven-seat SUV, expected to be the yet-to-be-revealed Boreal, later that year. Nissan plans to launch its corporate cousins of these Renault SUVs soon after and will likely similarly launch their hybrid variants as well.
Hyundai plans to launch a new locally manufactured three-row SUV (codename: Ni1i) that is bigger than the Alcazar and directly competes with Mahindra’s XUV700 in 2027. The company will offer a hybrid powertrain in India for the first time starting with this model. The next-gen Creta (codename: SX3), which will arrive later that year, will also be available with a hybrid powertrain.
Also Read: 5 New Hyundai & Kia Cars Arriving Over The Next 12-18 Months
Volkswagen Group is also working on locally manufactured hybrid cars for India, under the core Skoda and Volkswagen brands. The company is likely to launch the first of these models, possibly the next-gen Skoda Kushaq, by 2028. The replacements for the current VW Taigun, Skoda Slavia, and VW Virtus should follow, all three with hybrid systems. A 7-seat SUV from both core brands could also be in the pipeline, and that model may also be launched with a hybrid powertrain.
Mahindra did not have hybrid models in their plans earlier but is responding to the shifting consumer preferences. The company is contemplating series-hybrid models as well extended range electric vehicles (EREVs), which are essentially series-hybrid cars with a much larger, externally chargeable battery pack. It is looking at the 3XO with the regular series-hybrid powertrain and the BE 6 and XEV 9e with a rechargeable one.
Tata Motors also did not have plans to launch hybrid cars but is now open to the idea if that’s where a sizeable chunk of the market decides to move in the future. The company is still opposing any incentives on hybrid cars, batting exclusively for EVs, but it is no longer ruling out introducing hybrid models if enough customers demand them. It does not have any firm plans for a specific hybrid car as of yet, though.
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