Hyundai, Kia Pump It Up on 1st Hybrids

Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group, South Korea’s largest carmaker, said the company is confident on the sales of its first couple of hybrid models that are about to hit the market. “The hybrid editions of the Avante and Forte sedans have sufficient competitiveness as the world’s first liquefied petroleum injection (LPI) hybrid products,” Lee Ki-sang, Hyundai-Kia’s vice president of hybrid vehicle development, told reporters during a press conference at the auto giant’s Seoul headquarters. “Hyundai-Kia expects to secure an edge in technologies on eco-friendly vehicles with the successful release of these models.” At the conference, Hyundai-Kia made a presentation about the two vehicles, as well introducing current global research and development of hybrid vehicles. Park Dong-chul, the director of the Korea Automotive Research Institute said competition in this newly emerging field is picking up, evolving into an international battle backed by governments. Following the debut of Hyundai’s Avante LPI this month, Kia plans to introduce the Forte LPI compact sedan in August. Even though the Avante hybrid lags behind its Japanese competitors in fuel economy, it could still appeal to customers with the price edge of LPG fuel, Lee of Hyundai-Kia said. (July 2, 2009)