Kia Corporation, at its CEO Investor Day in South Korea, confirmed that it is planning to launch a hybrid version of one of its most popular SUVs in India — Kia Seltos.
Media reports suggest that the upcoming Seltos Hybrid could borrow its powertrain from the Hyundai Kona Hybrid, which comprises a 1.6-litre petrol engine paired to a 44PS electric motor and a 6-speed DCT. The said powertrain puts out 141PS of max power and 265Nm of peak torque on the Kona.
The Seltos Hybrid is expected to make its debut with the next generational model of the SUV, which is likely to be launched in India sometime in 2026. The exact launch timeline is yet to be confirmed by the carmaker.
Kia plans to expand its hybrid and EV portfolio, with plans of including 15 electric models and 10 hybrid models in its global lineup by 2030. Confirmed electric models include the EV2, EV3, EV4, and EV5, while confirmed hybrid models include the Seltos and Telluride SUVs.
Kia forecasts over 4 lakh units of sales in India by 2030, spearheaded by the new Kia Syros that was recently launched in petrol and diesel versions, and is also expected to be launched in an electric iteration soon.
Upcoming new Kia cars and SUVs that are planned to be launched in India in the near future include the Kia Carens Facelift, Kia Carens EV, and the Kia Syros EV, all of which are likely to be here in 2025.