Kia Corp. is gearing up to introduce at least two hybrid SUVs in India as part of its strategy to align with the country’s new emissions policy, which aims to accelerate the transition to greener vehicles.
According to sources familiar with the plans, who requested anonymity due to the confidential nature of the information, the South Korean automaker will debut a sub-four-metre hybrid SUV within the next 18 months. A larger hybrid SUV is expected to follow, although the timeline for these launches is tentative and could change.
These upcoming models will position Kia India Pvt. Ltd. as the third mainstream carmaker to offer hybrid vehicles in the country, joining Maruti Suzuki India Ltd., which sells the Grand Vitara, Victoris, and Invicto, and Toyota India with its Hyryder and Innova hybrids—though both operate at higher price brackets. Domestic automakers Tata Motors Ltd. and Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd., meanwhile, have largely concentrated on electric vehicles.
Kia’s move highlights how automakers are expanding their portfolios to comply with stricter emission norms. A draft emissions policy released last week indicated a shift in focus from solely electric vehicles to promoting hybrids as part of a multi-fuel roadmap for cleaner mobility.
Kia India did not respond to requests for comment regarding the new hybrid launches.
Kia Hybrid SUV: Driving Change in India
The company’s compact hybrid SUV could serve as a catalyst for wider hybrid adoption in India, where cost and infrastructure limitations make dual-powered vehicles a practical alternative to fully electric cars.
As global automakers adjust their strategies in response to uneven EV uptake and tightening emissions regulations, compact hybrids are emerging as a key segment in India and other developing markets where small vehicles dominate. Currently, hybrids make up only around 2.5% of India’s passenger vehicle market, less than half the share of EVs, according to government registration data.
Introducing hybrids is therefore a crucial step for Kia, which lacks a mass-market EV and relies heavily on petrol and diesel models like the Seltos and Sonet. At present, Kia India sells the locally manufactured Carens Clavis EV and the imported EV6, while hybrids could broaden its appeal in the mass market.
