With the auto industry transitioning from internal combustion engines (ICE) to battery-powered electric vehicles (EV), auto OEMs have planned their future centred around sustainable mobility. While the shift to complete battery-powered vehicles will take a long time, experts believe that hybrid vehicles are the best option for the medium future.
After already delving into the EV space, Kia now wants to grab a share of the pie in the hybrid vehicle space, especially for developing markets like India. Currently, options for hybrid vehicles are very thin with only a handful of offerings from Maruti, Toyota and Honda. However, there are indications that Kia may enter this space in the future.
Kia to launch hybrids in India
Speaking to Express Drives on the sidelines of the Kia Sonet facelift debut, Myung-Sik Sohn, Chief Sales and Business Officer, Kia India said, “We have the hybrid technology which is popular in Korea. The hybrid market in India is only 2.5 percent and there are only a handful of players like Maruti Suzuki, Toyota and Honda.
We are looking at the possibility of introducing the hybrid models in India but this depends on the customer’s demand and also the regulation in India. In a couple of years, the emission regulations will get more stringent and we are preparing for that step by step.”
Kia already retails strong hybrid models like the new-gen Carnival MPV, the Niro crossover, the K8 sedan, and the Sorento and Sportage SUVs in international markets. All these models are powered by a 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engine assisted by an electric motor that sources its energy from a battery pack.
Recent reports revealed that Kia is planning to launch another SUV codenamed AY in India. It is our strong belief that this new crossover will slot itself below the Sonet. The Korean brand also registered a new trademark called ‘Kia Clavis’ which is expected to be the brand’s next subcompact micro-SUV. This model is expected to be based on Hyundai Exter with a distinct top hat but similar underpinnings as Hyundai Grand i10 Nios.
