Hyundai gears up to drive in hybrid models to India by 2018

South Korean car major Hyundai is looking for a big play in the hybrid vehicle segment in India with plans to introduce its model Ioniq in 2018, besides unveiling mild-hybrids in its compact cars and SUVs. With pollution becoming a major issue in India, Hyundai, which is present through a 100 per cent arm HMIL here, plans to explore alternative fuel technologies and avail of benefit from government incentives for such vehicles. “We are planning to launch Ioniq hybrid in 2018 during the Auto Expo,” Hyundai Motor India (HMIL) Managing Director and CEO YK Koo told. The Ioniq will be imported as completely knocked-down unit and assembled in India. It will compete with the likes of Toyota Prius, which is priced at Rs 38.96 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi). Elaborating on the company’s future plans on hybrid vehicles in India, he said, “Next May, we can introduce mild hybrid in compact and SUV segments.”