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Bloomberg
Kia Corp unveiled its its new electric SUV, as the South Korean automaker and its affiliate Hyundai Motor Co. seek to catch up in the EV market.
The all-new Niro, an upgraded version of the model first released in 2016, will be available as a hybrid electric in the first quarter of 2022 and as an all-electric battery-powered model later in the first half, the automaker said at the Seoul Mobility Show. Kia didn’t disclose specs of the new model, including range or price.
“The all-new Kia Niro is an eco-friendly model that shows our will to realise sustainability,†Chief Executive Officer Ho-Sung Song told reporters at the auto show. The car uses environmentally-friendly materials, such as recycled fibers and benzene-free paint. The automaker aims to use 20% recycled plastic in all models by 2030.
Niro’s first model gained popularity in Europe because of its price competitiveness and good driving range, said Kim Jin-Woo, an analyst at Korea Investment & Securities in Seoul. “The new Niro could be a reasonable choice for consumers seeking a compact electric vehicle if it has a driving range of more than 350 kilometers,†he said.
The previous model had a range of about 385 kilometers (217 miles) and cost around 46 million won ($38,575). Kia had sold about 75,000 of the vehicles in Europe this year through the end of October,
according to Hana Financial Investment.