One half of Korea's biggest car-making company wants to be a global leader in environmentally responsible motoring before the year 2020.
Within five years, Kia plans to have 11 significantly different green cars on the road that will use everything from tiny, turbocharged engines to hybrid powertrains and plug-in electric through to hydrogen fuel cell technology in order to slash its fleet's CO2 output.
Hyundai, Kia's partner and parent company, already sells a hydrogen fuel cell car and Kia a plug-in electric version of its Soul compact crossover, but the new roadmap will require a further $10.2 billion investment.
Ki-Sang Lee, Senior Vice President, Eco Friendly Vehicle R&D Center, Kia Motors Corporation, said: "The electric and plug-in hybrid vehicle market will grow rapidly in the coming years, and this investment will enable Kia to meet the growing demand with a range of advanced new products and technologies."
And Kia is investing wisely with an eye on the medium-to long-term future of personal mobility, rather than simply following what appear to be the current greener motoring trends.
"We don't believe that there is any one ‘silver bullet' that can satisfy the demand for low emission technology within the car industry," said Lee. "So we foresee a wide range of eco-friendly powertrains co-existing for an extended period of time. The plans we've announced today represent Kia's ambition to become a worldwide leader in advanced propulsion technology."
The first step towards its 2020 goal will be the launch of what the company is calling a Hybrid Utility Vehicle (HUV), the Nitro. Announced Monday and set to debut in 2016 it has been built from the ground up to support alternative powertrain technology and will serve as a foundation for further greener innovations.
"Our new model is designed to offer buyers everything they could want from a compact SUV in terms of practicality and styling, while providing the typically low running costs associated with a dedicated hybrid powertrain," explained Hyoung-Keun Lee, Vice Chairman & CEO, Kia Motors Corporation."The compact SUV market remains one of the fastest-growing segments around the world, and by offering a handsome styling, modern appearance, high practicality and extraordinary fuel economy, Kia's new Niro Hybrid Utility Vehicle will be the most appealing and desirable car in its class."
