South Korean car maker Hyundai is planning to mass- produce hybrid vehicles next year, starting with the compact sedan the Avante. ( dpa )
The Avante hybrids will be fitted with the combination of an internal combustion engine running on liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) coupled with a battery pack and electric motor, the car maker has announced.
From the year 2010 Hyundai will then introduce larger hybrids, including a Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV), using petrol rather than LPG engines. The company is also planning to produce a fleet of fuel cell electric vehicles by 2012.
As part of a pilot project between Hyundai and its sister company Kia began supplying around 2,800 hybrid vehicles to government departments in 2004.