Hyundai Motor is preparing a new electric sport utility vehicle (SUV) in a larger class than the Ioniq 5. The name and detailed specifications have not been disclosed. It is expected to be developed as a D-segment electric SUV applying a next-generation software-defined vehicle (SDV) platform.

Electrek reported on Aug. 28 that Hyundai recently unveiled an undisclosed D-SUV among 5 new electric vehicles it plans to launch in Europe at its 2026 CEO Investor Day. In presentation materials, the vehicle was placed in Hyundai's lineup between the Ioniq 5 and the Santa Fe. Hyundai has not officially disclosed whether it will be sold globally, its launch timing or its name.

Hyundai plans to introduce more than 100 new and facelifted models worldwide by 2030. The number of launches by region is 58 in North America, 49 in South Korea, 41 in Europe, 26 in India and 22 in China. It sold 2 million vehicles in the first half of this year and posted revenue of 95.2 trillion won. Revenue rose 2.7 percent from a year earlier. Hyundai Motor Group described itself as the "world's No. 3 automotive group by sales volume and No. 2 by profitability."

Its 2030 global sales target is 5.55 million vehicles. It also plans to lift the share of electrified vehicles, including hybrids, battery-electric vehicles and extended-range electric vehicles (EREVs), to 60 percent in 2030 from 23 percent in 2025.

The new D-SUV is known to be set to apply Hyundai's next-generation full-stack SDV platform. Hyundai will work with Nvidia to apply Level 2+ autonomous driving technology to its first mass-produced SDV in 2028. Its in-house autonomous driving AI, Atria AI, will begin collecting real-world road data in Gwangju at the end of this year. It envisions expanding the technology in stages from Level 2+ to Level 4.

Next-generation infotainment system Pleos Connect is also cited as a key technology. Based on Android Automotive OS, it supports apps, customised screens and a generative AI agent, Gleo AI.

Hyundai is also pursuing a "in China, for China" strategy in China and will add new EVs and EREVs in 2027 starting with the Ioniq V. It remains to be seen whether a new electric SUV that fills the gap between the Ioniq 5 and the Santa Fe will expand beyond Europe to major global markets.