South Korea’s Hyundai Motor today announced its first dedicated petrol-electric vehicle, becoming one of a handful of car makers to challenge Toyota Motor’s Prius as low oil prices weigh on demand for fuel-efficient vehicles.
Hyundai Motor senior vice-president Lee Ki-sang said car makers had no choice but to boost green car sales to meet stringent emissions regulations, despite slackening demand as low petrol prices spur the market for fuel-guzzling vehicles.
“Oil prices could reduce hybrid car sales. But this is the way we have to go,” Mr Lee told reporters.
Hyundai said the compact car, named the Ioniq, achieved fuel economy of 22.4km/l in Korea. It would be rolled out in mid-January in its home market at a starting price of about 22.9-million won ($19,145).
The latest Prius has not been launched in Korea, but Mr Lee said the Ioniq would beat it for fuel economy in the US and South Korea.
Petrol-hybrid car market leader Toyota in December trimmed its global sales target for the new Prius to 300,000-350,000 as lower petrol prices hurt demand.
Hyundai has so far launched hybrid variants of their existing models like the Sonata and the Azera, but the 1.6l Ioniq is the first hybrid-exclusive car it has made from scratch.
It is also the first car to offer three electrified versions, including plug-in hybrid and full-electric. Hyundai plans to introduce a plug-in hybrid version late this year after rolling out a pure electric version.
Affiliate Kia Motors also plans to launch its first hybrid-dedicated model this year.