Hyundai Motor has moved up to fourth place among automotive brands in Interbrand’s Best Global Brands 2026 ranking, climbing from sixth place in 2025. The South Korean automaker moved up to fourth place among automotive brands, from sixth in 2025, extending its annual brand value growth streak to 17 years.
Hyundai attributed the improvement to its vehicle portfolio, electrified vehicle sales and investments in software-defined vehicles (SDVs), robotics and physical artificial intelligence (AI). The company has also continued to invest in global sports partnerships and marketing campaigns.
José Muñoz, president and CEO of Hyundai Motor Company, said the latest ranking reflected customer demand for its vehicles and the company’s development of technologies for future mobility, including SDVs and physical AI.
Hyundai Electrified Vehicle Sales Increase
Hyundai Motor sold 961,812 electrified vehicles globally in 2025, a 27% increase over the previous year. The total included 275,669 electric vehicles (EVs) and 634,990 hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs).
In the first quarter of 2026, global electrified vehicle sales increased 14.2% year on year to 242,612 units. Electrified vehicles accounted for 24.9% of Hyundai’s total global sales during the quarter, while hybrids represented 17.8% — both quarterly records for the company.
The TUCSON Hybrid contributed to the growth in hybrid sales, while Hyundai has introduced a new-generation hybrid system for the latest TUCSON. The company’s electrified SUV portfolio also includes the IONIQ 9, which received a five-star Euro NCAP safety rating and the 2026 Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) TOP SAFETY PICK+ award for US models.
The Palisade was named the 2026 North American Utility Vehicle of the Year, while the IONIQ 9 received the World’s Best Large SUV recognition at the 2026 Women’s Worldwide Car of the Year awards.
Hyundai Expands Robotics And Software-Defined Vehicle Plans
Hyundai Motor Group is developing robotics and physical AI applications alongside its vehicle business. In September 2026, the group demonstrated Atlas robot training at its Robotics Metaplant Application Center, ahead of a planned deployment at Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America from 2028.
The group is also working with NVIDIA on physical AI-based manufacturing initiatives, including a data centre project in Saemangeum, South Korea. Atlas received the Best Robot award at CNET Group’s Best of CES 2026, while the group’s MobED platform received a CES 2026 Best of Innovation Award.
In autonomous mobility, Motional launched an IONIQ 5 robotaxi pilot service in Las Vegas in March 2026, as Hyundai Group continues to work towards Level 4 autonomous driving applications.
Hyundai Motor Group has also expanded its software-defined vehicle strategy through Pleos, its software brand introduced in 2025. The group began applying the production version of its Pleos Connect system to the new Grandeur in South Korea in May 2026, with a phased global rollout planned. It aims to equip approximately 20 million vehicles with Pleos Connect by 2030.
Sports Partnerships And Marketing Support Brand Strategy
Hyundai has continued its global marketing activities through partnerships with major sporting events, including the FIFA World Cup 2026. The company has been a FIFA partner since 1999 and supplied an official vehicle fleet for the tournament.
In December 2025, Hyundai returned as a Premier Partner of the International Cricket Council (ICC), while also sponsoring the CONMEBOL Libertadores football competition in South America.
The company won the Audio and Radio category Grand Prix at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity in June 2026 for its campaign Coquí Alarmed. The award marked its second consecutive year of Grand Prix recognition, following Night Fishing in 2025.
How Interbrand Assesses Global Brand Value
Interbrand’s Best Global Brands report evaluates brands across three dimensions: financial performance attributable to the brand, the brand’s role in consumers’ purchase decisions, and brand strength, including its ability to build loyalty and sustain its influence over the medium to long term.
Hyundai’s latest ranking places it fourth among automotive brands, with a brand valuation of US$25 billion. Its position reflects the combined assessment of brand-related financial performance, purchase influence and brand strength under Interbrand’s methodology.