SEOUL, South Korea — Kia Motors is ramping up its push into alt-fuel vehicles with Tuesday's rollout of the Forte LPI gas-electric hybrid, which will debut at the 2009 Seoul Auto Show.
The Korean automaker said the Forte LPI hybrid will go on sale in the Korea domestic market in August. In a statement, Kia also said it plans to introduce a midsize full-hybrid vehicle in 2011, which is said to be based on the Kia Optima. Kia also said it will "follow up with early commercialization of a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle in 2012."
No plans were confirmed for a rollout of the vehicle in such markets as China, the U.S. and Europe.
At the same time, Kia also introduced its new sub-brand that emphasizes green vehicles, dubbed "Eco Dynamics."
The Forte LPI hybrid runs on both liquefied petroleum gas and electricity. Kia says it is also "the first car in the world to use lithium polymer batteries," which provide more power in a lighter and more compact package.
Inside Line says: Kia wants to be a player in the green vehicle movement. This is a major first step. — Jonathan Cho, Correspondent
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