The green car innovations just keep on coming and now the Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group has announced plans to add a diesel hybrid to its fleet.
The company, which already has both liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and petroleum hybrid offerings will attempt to commercialise a hybrid edition of one of its diesel models, according to a report in the Korea Times. The nation’s largest car maker made the revelation at the National Assembly on Monday, with Kim Hae-jin, the company’s managing director, stating that commercialisation will be established in 2011.
It is expected that Hyundai-Kia will focus on diesel hybrids rather than electric vehicles in the short-term. Kim outlined that electric cars will be produced in 2011 as well, but it will take five-six more years to churn them out and so the initial focus will be on diesel hybrid models.
Hyundai has already released hybrid editions of both the Avante and Forte saloon cars, and is also planning a hybrid version of the Sonata and Santa Fe.
