The popular Hyundai Venue's immediate future is in doubt in Australia as the brand faces increasing NVES pressure to rationalise its lineup.
A new Venue has been revealed in India, but is unlikely to launch in Australia, with the brand here instead waiting for an all-electric version to better fit into its local lineup.
"I honestly believe we're still going all-electric eventually. I think the world's going electric, and if we look at the Venue right now we have to consider the impacts on the NVES liability and requirements," says Hyundai Australia President and CEO, Don Romano.
Read more
"So the decision's not made at this point, but I do believe longterm we're going to be moving more and more to electrification electric vehicles, or very low emission HEVs and PHEVs and that type of technology versus just straight combustion engines.
"That decision's not made, but I don't see a long term in the current configuration for the Venue."
The new Venue was revealed in India with some critical changes to better appeal to that market. It's smaller than the vehicle currently sold in Australia, and gets a significant tech and feature upgrade.
Critically, the engine choices are a 1.2-litre naturally aspirated petrol, 1.0-litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine or a 1.5-litre turbo diesel engine - none of which carry the electrification demanded of Hyundai in Australia.
But while that car looks sure not to arrive, and Hyundai says the model currently sold here won't continue "long term", hope is not lost for the Venue nameplate to live on with electrified power in the future.
"The brand (Venue)? The brand might stick around, but it's not going to be the same Venue," Romano says.
It will leave a gap in Hyundai's portfolio, with the brand's smallest SUV contributing around 3000 sales to Hyundai's total so far this year.
