Kia aims to expand its Indian product portfolio with 10 new models by 2030, following a multi-powertrain strategy. Of these, eight models will be electrified (EV and hybrid) including the upcoming Kia Sorento and Kia Seltos hybrid SUVs.
Seltos Hybrid Confirmed
Speaking to Autocar Professional, Atul Sood, Senior Vice President at Kia India, confirmed that the company is developing a strong hybrid powertrain for the Seltos with a focus on localisation of the hybrid technology to achieve competitive pricing in India. However, he did not reveal a launch timeline for the Kia Seltos hybrid.
Seltos Electric Is Being Studied
When asked about a fully electric Seltos, similar to the Hyundai Crea Electric, Sood said Kia is currently exploring the possibility. However, the company is has not made a final decision yet.
Factory-Fitted CNG Models Under Consideration
Furthermore, the South Korean automaker is working on factory-fitted CNG models. The carmaker currently offers dealer-insalled CNG kits for the Carens. While Sood did not mention a specific launch timeline, he said that Kia is evaluating factory-fitted CNG options for the MPVs and other models in the lineup, depending on the market demand.
New Seltos Drives Sales Growth
Kia India registered 26% sales growth in the first half of this year, marking a nearly 20% growth for the overall passenger vehicle industry. With strong sales performance, Kia’s market share increased to 6.2% from 6% a year ago. The new-generation Kia Seltos also recorded 65% sales growth, significantly higher than the 40% growth posted by the overall B-SUV segment during the same period.
Future Sales Target
The South Korean automaker now aims to achieve annual sales of 4.1 lakh units by 2030, with a target market share of 7.6%. According to Sood, Kia’s long-term growth will be drive by offering customers a wide range of powertrain options including petrol, diesel, electric, hybrid and CNG, rather than depending on any single technology.