Kia to bring 1st hybrid variant of subcompact SUV Sonet to Japan, China

Kia Corp., South Korea’s second-largest automaker, plans to aggressively expand its hybrid vehicle lineup to subcompact SUVs amid slower-than-expected electric vehicle uptake worldwide.

As part of the plan, Kia, the sister firm of Hyundai Motor Co., will manufacture a hybrid version of its subcompact Sonet SUV and market the model to Japan and China, industry sources said on Thursday.

The move is part of Hyundai Motor Group’s two-track strategy to focus on both pure EVs and hybrid models, they said.

The Kia Sonet SUV, a B-segment model, will sit on the carmaker’s next-generation hybrid system to be released next year, according to sources.

Kia plans to sell the Sonet Hybrid globally in 2028, they said.

Kia Chief Executive said during the company’s 2024 CEO Investor Day earlier this month that its new hybrid system will be much lighter than the current system, resulting in increased mileage and higher fuel efficiency.

If all goes to plan, Kia’s hybrid vehicle lineup to expand to nine models from the current six – the K5, the K8, the Sportage SUV, the Sorento SUV, the Niro and the Ceed Hatchback.

Hybrid variants of the Kia Seltos and the Kia Telluride will be available by 2026 and the Kia Sonet Hybrid by 2028, sources said.

Over the long term, the automaker aims to sell 882,000 hybrid cars globally by 2030 from an estimated 410,000 units this year.

The Hyundai Venue, which shares the Kia Sonet’s manufacturing platform, will also unveil a hybrid variant, industry officials said.

TO COMPETE WITH TOYOTA, HONDA, NISSAN

The gasoline-powered Kia Sonet debuted in India in 2020 and has since been exported to emerging markets, including Vietnam, South Africa, Saudi Arabia and Colombia.

The model sold some 103,000 units globally last year.

The Sonet is 3,995 millimeters long and 1,770 mm wide, shorter and smaller than Kia’s other compact vehicles.

Once the hybrid variant is out in Japan, it will compete with rival Toyota, Honda and Nissan models.

The Toyota Yaris Hatchback, which is 3,940 millimeters long, and the Toyota Yaris Cross, 4,180 mm long, are particularly popular in Japan and Europe – traditional strongholds for hybrid vehicles. The two models sold a combined 334,000 units in Europe last year.

Toyota is known to be considering launching Yaris hybrid cars in India, where the Kia Sonet has been posting steady sales.

NEW HYBRID POWERTRAIN

Industry officials said Kia’s plan to expand its hybrid lineup to subcompact models reflects its hybrid technology prowess.

“The entire car design must be changed if you’re going to install a hybrid powertrain on subcompact SUVs. If the Kia Sonet goes hybrid, its new hybrid system becomes much smaller and lighter,” said a local hybrid expert.

Hyundai Motor Group’s hybrid vehicle technology is regarded as one of the world’s best.

In 1991, Hyundai developed its Alpha series of gasoline engines of its own design – the first of its kind in Korea. Based on its technology, the automotive group in 2011 developed a parallel hybrid system, becoming the world’s first to do so, which has both an internal combustion engine and an electric motor – a system that became the most common hybrid system by 2016.

Hyundai then moved on to develop a 1.6-liter turbo engine hybrid system and hybrid batteries in-house.

The company now sets its sights on developing a next-generation 2.5-liter turbo-engine hybrid system by 2025

SLOWER EV UPTAKE

Like their global peers, Hyundai and Kia recently turned their sights back to hybrid vehicles as worldwide electric vehicle uptake has been slower than expected for several reasons, including weak infrastructure.

The Korea duo made no secret of hybrid vehicles’ contribution to its rise in the global ranks to become the No. 3 automaker by volume.

With renewed interest in hybrid models, consumers around the world are looking to a variety of such vehicles sold by Hyundai and Kia.

Last November, Kia said it would introduce a turbo hybrid powertrain to the Carnival lineup, its flagship large recreational vehicle, to lure consumers to its hybrid models.

“We expect to improve our overall profitability if we expand our hybrid lineup,” said the Kia CEO.

Write to Nan-Sae Bin at binthere@hankyung.com

In-Soo Nam edited this article.