Hyundai's premium brand, Genesis, is preparing to showcase its cars at the Geneva auto show in March as it revs up for a European sales launch.
Genesis is currently sold in the U.S., Canada, Russia, South Korea, the Middle East and Australia.
Three years ago, Hyundai Europe Chief Operating Officer Thomas Schmid said Hyundai was holding off on the launch of Genesis sales in Europe until the end of the decade when the brand will have SUVs in its lineup and a wider range of powertrains.
Genesis currently sells the G70, G80 and G90 sedans. The brand plans to launch the GV70 and GV80 crossovers in the next two years. A battery-powered sedan is planned for 2021.
Genesis could start sales in Europe in a couple of years, Hyundai Chief Marketing Officer Cho Won Hong told Automotive News Europe earlier this year.
According to exhibition documents seen by ANE, Genesis has reserved a stand in one of the Geneva show's exhibition halls. The stand was last year occupied by Italy's DR Automobiles and Fornasari brands, and the Russian Aurus premium brand.
A Genesis spokesman said a final decision had not yet been made on whether the brand will appear at the show.
In September, Genesis hired Filippo Perini as chief designer at its European advanced design center in Germany. Perini worked for Alfa Romeo, Audi and Lamborghini. Most recently, he was the head of design and design innovation at Italdesign.
EDITOR'S NOTE: The name of the Russian premium brand Aurus has been corrected.
