Kia sets target to sell 16,000 hybrid Optima vehicles

Kia Motors Corp. has set a goal of selling 16,000 Optima mid-size hybrid sedans in 2012.  The plan includes selling 6,000 units overseas and 10,000 units in South Korea.  The Optima sedan hybrid model features a combination gasoline and battery engine.  In South Korea, the vehicle is being marketed as the K5 hybrid.  The hybrid retails for between 29.3 million won (US$27,000) and 32 million won (US$29,000).  Kia is South Korea’s number two automaker by sales and is part of the Hyundai Group. (May 13, 2011)