Hyundai to Begin Mass Producing Hybrids

Today in Seoul, South Korea, Hyundai Motor Company announced plans to begin mass production of hybrid electric vehicles by early 2009. Hyundai-Kia chairman Chung Mong Koo stated that "the importance of developing futuristic, environmentally-friendly cars is increasing for sustainable growth... Therefore, technology for advanced cars, like the hybrid, is imperative." He went on to say that Hyundai plans to develop a small fleet of fuel cell electric cars by 2012.

To meet its 2009 goals Hyundai plans to create a mass production system, develop new technology and expand its model lineup. The compact-sized LPG (Liquified Petroleum Gas) model, the Avante (Elantra) LPI (Liqufied Petroleum Injection) hybrid will be the first mass produced model. By 2010 they will introduce mid-sized hybrids that use both LPG and gasoline.

Hyundai has been producing hybrids since 2004 and currently makes the hybrid Avante (Elantra), but they are only for the Korean government. They have produced a total of about 2,800 hybrid cars so far.

Chairman Chung believes this plan will create new jobs and develop the industry into a next-generation value-adding growth engine. This will also increase Hyundai's competitiveness in the environmentally-friendly car sector, an area that most auto-manufacturers are counting on for survival in the next generation business sector.

[via Hyundai]