Genesis Targets UK Company Car Market with Electric SUVs
Genesis, Hyundai's luxury arm, is positioning its GV60 and Electrified GV70 electric SUVs to win over UK company car drivers as tax incentives drive record EV adoption in the salary sacrifice market.
Genesis, the luxury division of Hyundai Motor Group, is making a concerted push into the UK company car market, offering fleet drivers a pair of award-winning electric SUVs designed to challenge established premium brands. The move comes as new government data shows the number of company car drivers in the UK has risen to 920,000 in 2024/25, an increase of 180,000 or 24 per cent compared with 2020/21, with half of those drivers now choosing electric vehicles.
The surge in company car uptake has been driven by tax breaks reintroduced in 2020, which have combined with rapid advances in EV technology and an expanding range of models to transform the sector. In a year when manufacturers are working to meet a government-mandated 33 per cent EV share of new car sales, members of the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association report that company car orders are already tracking at over 80 per cent electric — a level that represents the industry-wide target for 2030.
Genesis, which launched in the UK in 2021, has carved out a distinct position in the premium market with what it describes as a uniquely Korean take on high-end motoring, refined with input from European engineering teams. Its company car line-up is led by the GV60 and Electrified GV70, both comprehensively updated in 2025.
The GV60, Genesis's first electric car and now its best-seller, is built on a dedicated EV platform that maximises interior space by placing the wheels at the corners and packaging the battery beneath the cabin. It offers a flat floor, an open area between the front seats and a 432-litre boot. The vehicle has earned two awards from What Car?, Autocar's sister title, naming it Best Electric SUV and Best Interior.
Both models feature a new 27-inch Integrated Cockpit that merges the infotainment screen and instrument cluster into a single panoramic display, capable of streaming content from Netflix, Disney+ and Bloomberg, with optional Bang & Olufsen audio. Physical buttons remain for commonly used functions, while voice commands activated by saying «Hey Genesis» allow drivers to keep their hands on the wheel.
The Electrified GV70 packages similar technology into a more traditional SUV silhouette, with an aluminium-rich bodyshell and recent updates to steering, suspension and cabin developed jointly by engineers in South Korea and Germany to suit European tastes. It offers seating for five, a large panoramic sunroof and up to 1,678 litres of storage with the rear seats folded. It was named Best Interior for a Family SUV at the What Car? Awards.
Both vehicles benefit from Hyundai Motor Group's EV expertise, including an efficient heat pump system, variable regenerative braking and all-wheel drive that can decouple the front axle to maximise range from a larger 84kWh battery pack. The GV60 offers up to 348 miles of range in rear-wheel-drive form, or 318 miles with all-wheel drive, while the Electrified GV70 delivers up to 298 miles. Genesis says both could travel from London to Carlisle without stopping.
For fleet drivers, the appeal extends beyond tax savings. Executive-class company cars are increasingly viewed as tools of the trade, required to serve as versatile long-distance tourers packed with features that keep drivers connected, comfortable and safe. Electrification has opened the market to ambitious new brands seeking to challenge established players, and Genesis is betting that its combination of advanced technology, premium materials and personal ownership experience will resonate with UK businesses and their employees.
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