Despite global hybrid push, Kia still committed to pure petrol engines

As petrol prices rise and electrified competition from China continues to flood the market, Kia says it remains committed to producing pure internal combustion engines alongside its growing squad of hybrids and EVs.

Speaking at the launch of the all-new Kia Seltos in Seoul, the company’s vice president and head of global business planning Spencer Cho told attendees that pure combustion models continue to play a vital role in its range.

Quizzed by global media on whether Kia will follow the likes of Toyota in phasing out its non-electrified ICE options, Cho said that “a big chunk of our customers still want the ICE models”. 

“The other OEMs might choose [to follow the Toyota] plan, but we still believe the ICE and hybrid combination might have much more opportunities to expand our market share and also to meet customer demand,” he said.

According to Cho, pure petrol and diesel vehicles allow Kia to pursue customers shopping at the more affordable end of the new-vehicle market.

“The cost of ICE is still significantly cheaper than hybrid powertrains,” said Cho.

“[One of the] overarching themes at this time of the automotive industry is affordability. So we still see the huge opportunities of keeping our ICE engines as base models, and adding hybrid powertrains [...] to meet the customers.” 

Cho’s statements on committing to internal combustion engine technology isn’t necessarily reflected by the brand’s New Zealand operations, where pure ICE powertrains continue to get replaced with hybrids and EVs.

Ironically, the brand's local arm confirmed this week that its most popular SUV, the Seltos, would be shifting from pure combustion engines to hybrids across its full line-up when the all-new variant arrives in the country. 

The Seltos’ shift to exclusive hybrid power sees it follow the same footsteps as the Niro, Sportage, and Sorento. In the last few years, the brand has launched four new pure electric nameplates — with a fifth (in the form of the PV5 van) coming later this year.

There are just three nameplates left in the Kia New Zealand portfolio that are still available with a pure internal combustion engine; the Picanto, Stonic, and Tasman. In all three cases, the nameplate is exclusively available with pure ICE power.