Hyundai hybrid vehicles to be cancelled?
Thursday, November 19,
2009
Will the Sonata hybrid ever be built?
Breaking - Sonata hybrid US launch pushed back to summer of 2011
Is Hyundai prepared to end its hybrid program? It's a possibility according to Korean sources.
Apparently, Hyundai isn't confident about how the future of the automobile is going to evolve, and hybrid cars are a point of contention. Consequently, Hyundai is said to be considering an EV plan much more like that of Nissan/Renault, rather than that of Toyota, especially considering Toyota's hybrid patent domination.
Yet, others within the company believe that the fuel cell vehicle is the most important goal, and fuel cell vehicles will be fuel cell hybrid vehicles.
Experts in South Korea also have varying opinions. If the US and/or China essentially mandate a very rapid adoption of EVs, as some believe will happen, South Korea will have to follow suit.
Other experts claim that the "pace of oil price hikes, government cooperation, and changes in consumer behavior" are very complex variables that will favor hybrids over EVs.
Currently, Hyundai is scheduled to begin production of the Sonata hybrid in 2010 for the US market.
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