Hyundai Motor Co. announced it will be supplying hybrid vehicles to the South Korean government under the hybrid car supply plan which goes into effect in '07.
The hybrid car supply plan has three stages. The first, which is near completion, calls for government officials to drive hybrids on a trial basis from 2004 until the end of 2006. Stage two calls for a small quantity of hybrids to be produced from 2007 to 2008. And the third stage mandates that the hybrids be mass produced from 2009 to 2015.
The central government will provide subsidies to help agencies and local governments to buy the vehicles
Hyundai will be unveiling hybrid versions of its Verna and Kia Pride in 2007. The gasoline-electric cars are supposed be able to run more than 20 km (12.4 miles) on one liter of gasoline.
Our take? Obviously, the three stage plan is meant to encourage the development of hybrid cars in South Korea to compete with the Japanese hybrids like the Toyota Prius and Honda Civic hybrid. Hyundai believes that its hybrids will be able to compete with foreign versions when they are mass produced starting in 2009.