Don’t forget Hyundai in rush to produce hybrids

Don’t forget Hyundai in rush to produce hybrids

Hyundai is planning to unveil its first hybrid this fall at the L.A. Auto Show as part of a seven-model product blitz over the next 24 months.

A hybrid version of the Sonata, Hyundai’s best-selling car, will likely be introduced for sale in 2010 — amid an increasingly crowded field of gas-electric hybrids, including plug-ins.

“We’ll be coming to market with lithium-ion technology,” said John Krafcik, vice president for American product development. That’s the battery chemistry that GM is hoping to develop for its Chevrolet Volt electric-drive car.

But the hybrid Sonata will not need to be plugged in overnight, Krafcik said. He described a “strong parallel hybrid” vehicle that has both a gas-burning engine and an electric motor to drive the wheels.
Transmission plant is all in the Hyundai family

Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue announced Friday that Kia supplier Powertech America plans to build a $150-million, 213,000-square-foot transmission factory in West Point, Ga.

It will employ 355 on the same site where Kia is building an assembly plant. Powertech America’s parent company is Seosan, Korea-based Hyundai Powertech. Hyundai Motor Co. owns about 39% of Kia.
Phelps strikes gold for Koreans?

So far, Hyundai’s advertisement for its new luxury sedan, Genesis, has aired only three times. But the Korean automaker has made the most of those few ad placements.

It twice aired during the Super Bowl in February. Then it was also the first commercial to air on Aug. 16 after super swimmer Michael Phelps won his eighth Olympic gold medal of the Beijing games.

“We heard that GM wasn’t so happy about that,” said Hyundai’s Krafcik.

General Motors Corp. is the official sponsor of the U.S. Olympic Team.

Source:Freep

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