On Friday, a statement confirmed that existing Hyundai dealers have been offered the opportunity to establish separate Genesis franchises. Those Hyundai dealerships that already sell Genesis models will have the first opportunity to apply for a Genesis franchise. Genesis wants to establish a network of around 100 retailers by the end of 2018.
There are currently 350 Hyundai dealerships in the U.S. selling Genesis vehicles. The move to further cement Genesis as a standalone brand is also expected to only permit Genesis-specific franchises from performing warranty work.
In 2017, Genesis sold 20,594 examples of the G80, G80 Sport, and G90 in the United States.
“At Genesis, we believe in putting our customers first and giving them a proper ownership experience,” said general manager of Genesis Motor America Erwin Raphael.
“To ensure that happens, we need to take this next step in the separation of the Genesis brand from our parent company. Establishing a right-sized Genesis retailer network, as our product portfolio grows, will ensure the Genesis brand can succeed and thrive long-term within the luxury automotive market,” Raphael concluded.
The world’s first dedicated Genesis showroom was revealed in Seoul, South Korea in January.
