The Genesis GV90 flagship electric SUV has been delayed due to unspecified ‘technical challenges’ and internal personnel movements, according to reports coming out of the brand’s home base in South Korea.
According to The Korean Car Blog, the GV90 EV’s previous April 2026 launch timing has been pushed further back to sometime in the second half of 2026.
It’s reportedly not the first delay for the GV90 program, which was previewed by the 2024 Genesis Neolun Concept as a three-row electric SUV designed to rival the BMW X7 and Mercedes-Benz GLS.
The Neolun Concept’s features included rear-hinged, Rolls-Royce-style coach doors, which the Genesis brand used in a bid to set a new benchmark for large luxury SUVs positioned above the GV70 and GV80 currently on sale in Australia.
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Per a report from May 2023, production of the GV90 was expected to commence in November 2025.
However, the landscape has changed significantly since then, with hybrids surging and growth for electric vehicles (EVs) not as pronounced as it was – not ideal for automakers like Hyundai Motor Group (HMG) that have made huge investments in EVs.
The latest delay to the GV90, according to The Korean Car Blog, stems from technical challenges associated with equipping the vehicle with level 3 autonomous driving technology.
Autonomous driving capability is categorised by five different levels, with level 0 describing a standard, human-driven vehicle, while level 5 is the highest level and applies to vehicles which can completely drive themselves.
For context, the Tesla Model Y is considered a level 2 autonomous vehicle, even when using Full Self-Driving (FSD), which was activated in Australia and New Zealand in September 2025.
Mercedes-Benz currently offers a level 3 autonomous system called Drive Pilot on its EQS electric flagship in some markets. It’s effectively an eyes-off, hands-off system, though this functionality is only available on certain roads and in certain scenarios.
The GV90, The Korean Car Blog added, has been spotted testing with unusual ‘trap doors’, which suggest it’s being fitted with various LiDAR sensors and other advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) required for level 3 functionality.
The changes also appear to have seen the Rolls-Royce-style coach doors dropped, with conventional doors used instead.
Beyond the engineering program, personnel changes within HMG and Genesis itself have also contributed to the GV90 being held back, with potential new strategies and tactics now being implemented.
In December, Sean (Sihyeok) Lee, a 25-year HMG veteran, was announced as the global head of Genesis, with experience in the key North American market.
“Lee will guide Genesis through a transformative period of new model introductions, including the long-anticipated flagship SUV, the first Genesis hybrid and EREV [extended-range electric vehicle] models, and the continued expansion of the Genesis Magma high-performance lineup,” a statement from the company said.
This followed the appointment of Jose Muñoz, who took over as Hyundai Motor Company (HMC) president and CEO – the first from outside South Korea – in January 2025.
Changes at parent HMG from January 1, 2026, saw Eunsook Jin take over as President, leading its software and IT programs, with Seokmoon Ryo named CEO of its software affiliate, Hyundai AutoEver.