Hybrid and Electric Models Lift Hyundai to Fourth

Car shoppers now see electrified models at a quarter of Hyundai's global sales, a shift worth weighing against your own driving needs.

Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Electric Vehicles

Hyundai Motor rose to fourth among automotive brands in Interbrand's 2026 Best Global Brands ranking, with an estimated brand value of $25 billion. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Are you planning to buy a hybrid or electric vehicle in the next year?

Hyundai Motor climbed to 29th in Interbrand's Best Global Brands 2026 ranking and rose from sixth to fourth among automotive brands, with an estimated brand value of $25 billion, up two percent from last year. The company extended its run of consecutive annual brand value growth to 17 years.

Why it matters

The ranking follows a year of higher electrified vehicle sales, which rose 27 percent in 2025, and several industry awards for Hyundai's SUVs. For households weighing a new car, the shift toward hybrids and fully electric models is becoming a central part of the mainstream market.

Hyundai sold 961,812 electrified vehicles worldwide in 2025, a 27 percent increase, including 275,669 fully electric models and 634,990 hybrids. In the first quarter of 2026, electrified vehicles made up 24.9 percent of global sales, with deliveries up 14.2 percent year on year.

The players

Hyundai Motor

South Korean automaker known for its Tucson and IONIQ electric lineup, now fourth among automotive brands in Interbrand's 2026 ranking.

Interbrand

Global brand consultancy that publishes the annual Best Global Brands ranking, which measures brand value and performance.

Motional

Autonomous driving company that began an IONIQ 5 robotaxi pilot in Las Vegas in March 2026.

The details

Interbrand's ranking scores brands on factors that include financial performance and market reach, and Hyundai's gain came as its electrified lineup expanded. The Tucson Hybrid contributed to stronger hybrid sales, while the Pleos Connect software platform made its production debut in the new Grandeur sedan in South Korea in May. Hyundai Motor Group plans to equip approximately 20 million vehicles with Pleos Connect by 2030. Motional also began an IONIQ 5 robotaxi pilot in Las Vegas in March 2026.

2025: Hyundai sold 961,812 electrified vehicles worldwide, up 27 percent.
March 2026: Motional began its IONIQ 5 robotaxi pilot in Las Vegas.
First quarter 2026: Electrified deliveries reached 242,612 units.
2026: Interbrand published the Best Global Brands 2026 ranking.
2028: Hyundai plans to introduce the Atlas humanoid robot at its Georgia, United States, manufacturing facility.

The Home Front

Hyundai's climb in Interbrand's ranking reflects a broader shift in which hybrids and electrified models now account for nearly a quarter of global sales. That trend sits alongside the wider mainstreaming of electric vehicles in household car decisions.

If you are shopping for a new vehicle, compare hybrid and fully electric options against your daily driving distance and whether you have reliable home charging. Ask your dealer about the software and warranty coverage on any electrified model you consider, and have any charger installation done by a licensed electrician.

The takeaway

Electrified vehicles are now a substantial share of new car sales, so the powertrain choice is worth weighing alongside price and reliability. Keep the model's warranty terms and any software update schedule on file when you buy.

What happens next

Hyundai plans to equip approximately 20 million vehicles with Pleos Connect by 2030 and to introduce the Atlas humanoid robot at its Georgia, United States, facility beginning in 2028.