Summary
- Hyundai Motor India Ltd (HMIL) beat analyst profit estimates for Q1 FY2026, reporting a net profit of Rs 1,369 crore ($156.7 million), driven by a 13% surge in exports.
- Net profit fell 8% year-over-year but exceeded expectations, as analysts, on average, had forecast Rs 1,259 crore (LSEG data).
- Revenue dropped 5.4% year-over-year to Rs 16,413 crore, reflecting domestic market weakness.
- Exports climbed to 48,140 units in Q1 FY26, up from 42,600 units in the prior year, now contributing 26.7% of total sales.
- SUVs continue to drive both domestic and export success, with models like the Creta and Tucson key to growth.
- Hyundai is preparing to boost capacity with a new Pune plant and expanding its EV offerings, notably launching India's first locally produced Creta Electric.
- Management remains “cautiously optimistic,” citing global demand, evolving consumer trends, and ongoing geopolitical impacts.
- Dividend of Rs 21 per share declared, with record date set for August 5, 2025.
- Shares were down nearly 1% after results, but Nomura maintains a ‘Buy’ rating, targeting Rs 2,291 per share.
- India’s auto exports hit record levels, with Hyundai holding the second-largest passenger vehicle export share for Q1 FY26.
Hyundai Motor India Ltd (HMIL) has surpassed market expectations for its first-quarter profit, lifted by a sharp increase in exports that helped offset domestic sales challenges, according to multiple media reports. For the April–June 2025 period, the South Korean automaker’s Indian unit reported an 8% year-over-year drop in net profit, but still beat consensus estimates amid global demand and strategic expansion.
How Did Hyundai Beat Quarterly Profit Expectations?
As reported by Nandan Mandayam of Reuters, Hyundai Motor India managed to exceed profit forecasts for the April–June quarter, registering a net profit of Rs 1,369 crore ($156.7 million) versus the Rs 1,259 crore analysts had expected, despite an 8% decline from the previous year’s Rs 1,490 crore. While revenue slipped 5.4% year-over-year to Rs 16,413 crore, the company’s focus on international markets and export growth made the difference as the domestic auto market softened.
Charles Hayes, writing for AInvest, described the current success as the result of Hyundai’s ability to “pivot toward international markets while innovating in electrification,” noting that export expansion was the “critical strategic move” that set Hyundai apart in a volatile sector.
What Did Hyundai’s Management Say?
As reported by India Today and Economic Times Auto, Tarun Garg, Whole-time Director and Chief Operating Officer, HMIL, stated:
“Underscoring the global appeal of Hyundai vehicles, we recorded a 13% year-on-year growth in export volumes for Q1 FY2026, with 48,140 units shipped compared to 42,600 units in the same period last year. This has elevated the share of exports to 26.7% of total sales in Q1 FY2026, up from 22.2% in Q1 FY2025.”
Garg also observed that the domestic market in June remained subdued due to the “ongoing geopolitical situation,” but emphasized Hyundai’s optimistic outlook with “improving liquidity and upcoming production from its Talegaon plant.”
Why Are Exports Outperforming Domestic Sales?
According to Economic Times and Reuters, while domestic passenger vehicle sales in India have been impacted by supply chain challenges and softer consumer demand, international shipments have surged. Emerging markets such as Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Chile, and Peru showed robust appetite for Hyundai’s SUVs and their newly localized electric offerings. Passenger vehicle exports for India reached a record 204,330 units in Q1 FY26, of which Hyundai contributed 48,140 units—a 13% increase from last year.
Multiple sources highlighted that exports now account for over a quarter of Hyundai India’s total sales, marking an increasing emphasis on global markets. SUVs, particularly the Creta and Tucson, played a key role, and the rollout of the Creta Electric—India’s first locally produced EV from Hyundai—has fostered additional momentum in export numbers.
What Is Hyundai’s Strategic Direction for Growth?
Reporters including Charles Hayes (AInvest) and the India Today business desk outlined the automaker’s dual focus:
- Capitalize on strong SUV and EV demand
- Expand manufacturing capacity in India to serve both domestic and export markets
A third Pune plant, due online in H2 2025, will raise annual output capacity to 1.5 million units. On the electrification front, Hyundai plans to launch six EVs in India by 2030, reducing reliance on imports and aligning with global regulatory trends.
Added investments in renewable energy and battery localization are also underway, with a ₹380.5 crore wind farm project to lower production emissions and operating expenses.
How Are Markets and Analysts Reacting to Hyundai India’s Results?
According to Business Today, Hyundai’s shares slipped roughly 1% after results but remain robust, given the export-led outlook and impending capacity expansion. Nomura analysts reaffirmed a “Buy” rating on Hyundai, setting a target price of Rs 2,291 per share. Nomura expects total volumes to dip slightly year-over-year, but for export growth (6%) to more than offset a projected 4% decline in domestic sales—reflecting a net decline of only 1.6% YoY in volumes.
What Is the Broader Industry Context for Hyundai’s Growth?
Rahul Bharti, Senior Executive Officer at Maruti Suzuki, told Economic Times that India’s auto exports are at an all-time high, with Maruti holding nearly half the share and Hyundai second, responsible for more than one in five exported passenger vehicles. The Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) attributed the overall sector’s export growth to rising demand in the Middle East and Latin America, as well as recovering neighboring markets like Sri Lanka and Nepal.
What Is Hyundai’s Dividend Policy and Future Outlook?
Multiple sources, including CNBC-TV18 and Business Today, report that Hyundai’s board declared a dividend of Rs 21 per equity share, with August 5, 2025, as record date for shareholders to receive this payout. The company is preparing for domestic demand recovery as its new Talegaon plant comes online and as interest-rate cuts and liquidity improvements kick in.
Did Hyundai’s Q1 Results Meet or Miss Street Expectations?
As stated by Reuters and TradingView, Hyundai India’s results were “better than expected,” largely “on higher exports and improved SUV proceeds,” beating the LSEG analyst average for net earnings by over 8% (Rs 1,369 crore actual vs. Rs 1,259 crore expected).
Hyundai Motor India has demonstrated significant resilience in Q1 FY26 by leveraging strong export growth and strategic product localization to beat market profit forecasts, even as domestic headwinds persisted. With further international expansion, increasing EV production, and robust SUV performance, the company remains well-positioned for the remainder of the year—and continues to solidify its place as a global export powerhouse from India.