Hyundai Motor Group Charts Brazil Growth Strategy: Production Milestone, New i20, Hydrogen Push
Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Euisun Chung visited the Piracicaba plant to outline a mid-to-long-term growth strategy built on market-specific models, electrified powertrains, and a local hydrogen ecosystem.
- 200,000 vehicles
- 2.5 million vehicles
- 96,723 units
- 204,000 units
What Happened
Euisun Chung, Executive Chair of Hyundai Motor Group, visited Hyundai Motor Company’s manufacturing plant in Piracicaba, Brazil, to chart the Group's mid-to-long-term local growth strategy. The visit reflects the Group's commitment to the Brazilian market and its exploration of new growth opportunities in mobility and hydrogen energy. Brazil is a key hub for the Group in Central & South America, hosting both the local production plant and the CSA regional headquarters. Since 2012, the HMB plant has produced approximately 200,000 vehicles annually, establishing itself as a major Korean business in the country.
Hyundai Motor Brazil plant completed, producing approximately 200,000 vehicles annually.
HMB plant reached cumulative production of 2.5 million vehicles.
i20 launched as a core strategic model for the B-segment.
Hyundai Motor sold 96,723 units in Brazil, its highest first-half volume since 2019.
Brazil's automotive market is characterized by unique structural requirements. Fuel-flexible vehicles (FFVs), which can operate on both gasoline and ethanol, dominate market demand, while import tariffs of up to 35 percent make local production essential to maintaining a competitive advantage. At the plant, Executive Chair Chung reviewed production operations and conducted an in-depth quality inspection of the i20 and CRETA SUV. The HMB plant currently produces 200,000 units annually on a mixed line spanning three models developed for the Brazilian market: HB20, CRETA and i20.
“The milestone of 2.5 million units produced in just 13 years stands as a testament to the dedication and teamwork of everyone at our Brazil plant. Building on this meaningful achievement, we must now rise to the new challenges ahead in an increasingly competitive external environment. This success has been possible only because of the trust Brazilian customers have in our products. We must focus e”
- Strengthen sales of the popular CRETA while introducing diverse SUV models by 2030.
- Explore local production of small electric vehicles while accelerating development of FFV-HEV (Fuel Flexible Vehicle-Hybrid) powertrains designed for Brazil's ethanol-gasoline fuel ecosystem.
- Establish a local hydrogen and renewable energy ecosystem, exploring hydrogen commercial vehicles, hydrogen trams, green hydrogen production, hydrogen fuel cell system supply, and renewable energy pow
Launched in June 2026, the i20 is positioned as a core strategic model alongside the HB20 to lead the Brazil B-segment market. It is equipped with an FFV-exclusive powertrain optimized for the Brazilian market and offers SUV-like space, comfort, advanced technology, and safety. The B-segment represents 23 percent of Brazil's automotive market, making it the country’s second-largest segment. Hyundai Motor aims to establish the i20 as a bestseller through product and quality competitiveness and is pursuing strategic partnerships across travel, retail, entertainment, and fitness sectors. According to Fenabrave, Hyundai recorded first-half 2026 sales of 96,723 units, a 12.1 percent increase from 86,316 units a year earlier, and achieved a 7.1 percent market share to rank fifth. HB20 cumulative sales exceed 1.88 million units, while CRETA exceeds 570,000 units; the company plans total 2026 sales of 204,000 units.
Hyundai Motor contributes to sustainable social development in Brazil through CSR initiatives. The IONIQ Forest campaign has planted 100,000 trees across Minas Gerais and São Paulo States since 2022, restoring 40 hectares of forest. Since 2014, the Sorriso Cidadão (Citizen Smile) dental trailer program has provided free dental care to over 80,000 children and law enforcement officials. In 2026, the Brazil plant received Empresa Pró-Ética certification from Brazil’s Controladoria-Geral da União, the only automotive operation to receive it in the past 10 years, and has been certified as a Great Place to Work for nine consecutive years.
Why this matters
Brazil's unique market — dominated by fuel-flexible vehicles and import tariffs up to 35 percent — makes local production key to competitiveness. Hyundai's push into FFV-hybrids, small EVs, and hydrogen builds on its leading position, with the new i20 targeting the country's second-largest segment. The strategy affects local workers, suppliers, and Brazilian customers, and strengthens Hyundai's role as a major Korean business in the region.
Terms in This Story
- FFV
- Fuel-flexible vehicle; a vehicle that can run on more than one fuel, typically gasoline and ethanol.
- B-segment
- A car classification for small cars, such as superminis and small hatchbacks.
- PNH2
- Programa Nacional de Hidrogênio; Brazil's National Hydrogen Program.
- FFV-HEV
- A hybrid electric vehicle that combines a fuel-flexible engine with an electric motor.
Summarised from the linked release; details can be imperfect — always verify against the original source.