Hyundai Completes 30 Years In India: A Look Back At Its Greatest Hits
The South Korean automotive giant Hyundai entered India with its subsidiary, Hyundai Motor India Limited (HMIL), on May 6, 1996, when there were only a handful of other automakers in the country. Today, it's the company's 30th anniversary, and in the last three decades that Hyundai has been in India, it has managed to sell over 13.5 million cars in the country. It is also the country's largest passenger vehicle exporter. Today, we wanted to give a tribute to Hyundai by listing all the hit products which they have launched in India.
The first car that Hyundai Motor India Limited launched in India was the Santro hatchback. Unlike other smaller hatchbacks available in the market, the Santro became super popular due to its “Tall boy” design. It was able to accommodate taller people with a lot more comfort than other hatchbacks. It also came powered by a 999cc MPFi engine, which made 56 PS and came equipped with premium features such as power windows and steering, which were not seen in other affordable hatchbacks.
As a result of this, it managed to become a huge hit in India, and over 60,000 annual sales were achieved by the company very early on. At one point, it contributed 76 percent to the total sales of the brand. Also, in 1998, when the Bollywood megastar Shah Rukh Khan became the brand ambassador (he is still the brand ambassador of Hyundai), the sales increased even more.
Later, in 2003, Hyundai launched the Santro Xing, which gave it a fresh design and managed to cross the 10 lakh sales milestone. Over its life, 18.5 lakh units of the Santro have been sold.
After the massive success of the Santro, Hyundai, in 2007, introduced the i10 hatchback as its spiritual successor. It was developed by the company specifically for the Indian automotive market. Hyundai positioned the i10 as a more premium hatchback for buyers who were looking to upgrade from their Santro. Since the launch of the first model, we have seen three generations of the i10, namely the original i10, the Grand i10, and currently, the Grand i10 NIOS.
Hyundai, from the beginning, started offering the i10 with a major focus on safety features. It offered dual airbags and ABS, which at the time were very rare in this segment. The Grand i10 also boosted its popularity by introducing a diesel engine option. The current Grand i10 NIOS comes loaded with features such as six airbags, electronic stability control, wireless charging, and a touchscreen infotainment system. Once again, all of these make it a very good first car option.
The i10 nameplate so far has crossed 3 million sales in the world. Of these, over 2 million units have been sold in India alone. Even today, after so many rivals have entered the market, the i10 remains one of the most consistently selling vehicles in the Indian automotive market.
In 2008, Hyundai created a sensation in the hatchback market. It launched the i20, which managed to completely change the perception of hatchbacks in India. At the time, many people could not understand why someone would pay over Rs 8 lakh for a hatchback. However, the Hyundai i20 proved that buyers in India were ready to pay more for premium features and quality.
The first-generation model quickly became extremely popular and crossed 5 lakh sales, after which the second-generation Elite i20 took things to the next level. It came with features like a touchscreen infotainment system, automatic climate control, and push-button start. Currently, the third-generation model has become even more premium after the addition of a sunroof, Bose sound system, and more safety features like six airbags. Over the years, Hyundai has managed to sell 14.7 lakh i20s in India.
The Hyundai Verna was introduced in 2006 as a replacement for the popular sedan Accent. At the time, it quickly became one of the most popular sedans in its segment. As a result, over the years, we have seen multiple generations of this sedan, and each one has been better than before.
In 2018, the Hyundai Verna also managed to win the prestigious Indian Car of the Year award. It was made possible due to features such as ventilated seats, a sunroof, and six airbags. The latest generation of the Verna was launched in 2023, and it has also become very popular due to its 1.5-litre turbo petrol engine, ADAS, and other features.
In 2015, Hyundai launched the Creta to rival the Renault Duster and the Ford Ecosport, both of which dominated the segment of mid-size SUVs, which was recently created. Now, as the Renault Duster and Ford Ecosport did not change with the changing times, the Creta managed to take over both of these SUVs at once.
It quickly became the benchmark, and to this date, it remains the most dominant SUV in its category. The Creta has achieved over 12 lakh cumulative sales. What has helped the Creta in maintaining its lead over its rivals is the sheer number of options that one has in terms of variants, engines, and gearboxes. It is said that there is a Creta for every buyer.
In 2025, the Creta also recorded its highest-ever annual sales and managed to cross 2 lakh units. Hyundai has also expanded the lineup with the introduction of the Creta Electric in India. Most likely, the Creta will continue to dominate the mid-size SUV segment, as its new generation based on the K3 platform is also on the horizon.
Last on this list is the Hyundai Venue sub-compact SUV. This SUV was launched in 2019, and it turned out to be an instant success. In just the first two months of launch, the Venue received over 50,000 bookings. One of the biggest highlights of the Venue was the introduction of BlueLink connected car technology. This technology helped Hyundai in offering features like remote start, geo-fencing, and voice commands, which were very new to the segment.
The Venue has crossed over 7 lakh units in sales, and it continues to remain one of the top-selling sub-compact SUVs in India. Hyundai also introduced the sportier Venue N-Line in India, and it is very popular among younger car buyers due to its sporty looks. The latest generation Venue has continued the success momentum, as it comes loaded with a ton of features and is offered with multiple powertrain options.