India has emerged as the world’s third largest automotive market and this opens up opportunities for car manufacturers to consider India as the primary recipient for future products. In that regard, we may see many OEMs patenting their current products, future products and even concept vehicles, even if it is just an IP protection exercise.
One such OEM is Hyundai and the South Korean automotive juggernaut recently patented one of its vehicles in India. We’re talking about what looks like a new version of the Hyundai Boulder Concept, which made its global debut at the New York Auto Show in April 2026 to take on the popular off-roaders. An SUV version and pickup truck version will emerge from the Hyundai Boulder concept.
Hyundai Boulder SUV
Keeping in mind the off-roaders like Jeep Wrangler, Ford Bronco, Land Rover Defender and others, Hyundai Motor Company has introduced the Bronco SUV concept. It made its global debut at the New York Auto Show in April 2026 and will be Hyundai’s first ladder-frame offering for the North American market.
Hyundai Boulder is expected to first introduce a pickup truck version and then an SUV version. The SUV version of the Hyundai Boulder was recently patented in India. In its concept form, it is a boxy ladder SUV with strong aesthetics and a textbook SUV silhouette. The Hyundai Boulder embodies the company’s ‘Art of Steel’ design language.
Notable design highlights include a closed grille with LEDs, vertically stacked LED headlight setup, chunky off-road-y bumpers, flat clamshell bonnet, straight windscreen, flared wheel arches, big wheels and large M/T tyres, Rolls-Royce-like suicide doors and more. It should be noted that the patented design is slightly different from the one introduced earlier this year.
This suggests that the new patented design is of the Boulder EV concept, while the previously launched design was an ICE concept. Compared to the previous version of the Boulder concept, we could see safari windows on top, flood lights and a wrap-around glass element at the rear. All of these elements are missing from the new design patent.
what to expect?
On the inside, the Hyundai Boulder Concept will come with a robust and functional interior layout with vintage touches. The concept features four mini displays on the dashboard for various infotainment purposes. The Neo Retro steering wheel with rotary dials on the steering and dashboard adds a tactile physical interface, which will sit well with purists. There’s even a full-width HUD.
The Hyundai Boulder will be designed and conceived in the United States for the American market and is estimated to be launched by 2030. Looking at the new design patent and its closed grille, one can speculate that an electric version of the Hyundai Boulder could also be in the works.
