Kia shared its product strategy for the next five years at a recent global investor’s meet in Seoul a couple of days ago. The business strategy revolved around electrification of its product lineup including fully-electric as well as hybrid models. For the Indian market, Kia is targeting 25% of its sales to come from hybrids and 18% from EVs by the year 2030.
It is no secret that the South Korean carmaker is already working on a second-gen Seltos. Prototypes of the same have been spotted on multiple occasions in the past few months. It has now come to light that Kia will launch the second generation Seltos with a petrol hybrid powertrain.
Hybrid Kia Seltos in works
The new-gen Kia Seltos will be making its global debut later this year and expected to make its way to India sometime next year. Although Kia is yet to divulge any specific details about the new Seltos, we can expect it to offer a strong hybrid powertrain mated most likely to the 1.5-litre naturally petrol unit.
While the 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine will continue with the second-gen Seltos, strict emission norms have cast a cloud of doubts over the 1.5-litre diesel unit. At the same time, Kia is also developing a three-row SUV based on Seltos for India which is also likely to benefit from the upcoming petrol hybrid powertrain.
As recent spy images suggest, the new-gen Kia Seltos will receive a significant design makeover including new LED headlamps with a unique light signature, redesigned ORVMs, and dual-tone alloy wheels being few notable visual updates. However, the most distinctive highlight will be its redesigned grille which takes inspiration from the flagship Kia SUV — Telluride — on sale in North America.
Other EVs in development
Kia’s current lineup in India is dominated by internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, with EVs making up just about 1% of their offerings. However, the brand is actively working to expand its electric footprint. The Carens EV is slated for launch later this year, followed by the Syros EV in 2026—both aimed at the mass market to drive higher volumes. Additionally, Kia recently introduced the facelifted EV6 in India to strengthen its presence in the premium electric vehicle segment.
