Vijaywada: AP signs MoU with Korean major Kia

Vijaywada: Kia Motors India, the world’s 8th largest South Korea-based automaker, on Thursday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Andhra Pradesh to collaborate on the ‘Partnership for Future Eco Mobility’.

Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu who was present at the MoU signing ceremony said the state government has been encouraging electric cars as they are good for the environment. In the coming days, around 7,500 electric vehicles will be deployed in the state for garbage collection. Mr Naidu also travelled in an electric car manufactured by Kia Motors.  

As part of the agreement, Kia Motors has provided the government with three of its global best-selling eco car – a Niro Hybrid, Niro Plug-in Hybrid and a Niro EV.

Kia had also installed a vehicle charging station in Vijayawada, for representatives from the regional government to charge their new environmentally-friendly fleet. The Niro EV is a fully electric crossover capable of travelling 455 kilometres on a single charge by Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test procedure (WLTP) combined test cycle.  Kia Motors India managing director and CEO Kookhyun Shim was also present.

The partnership signifies Kia’s long-term commitment to build eco-friendly vehicles at its new Anantapur plant, an important step for the future of clean mobility in the rapidly expanding Indian market.

The AP government is developing 14 Smart Cities to improve the quality of living and to enable businesses to optimise their resources.

The Korean brand is working with the regional government to design a new generation of transportation system that would serve the citizens in each of the Smart Cities. This is part of a wider plan by Kia to offer alternative mobility within the Indian market.

“Future mobility will be defined by connected and sustainable technologies that play an important role in changing customer lifestyles,” said Mr. Kookhyun Shim.

“Kia is taking a lead in the global eco-friendly vehicle market, and we are confident of achieving the same in India. This new partnership with the AP government highlights how we can support the growth of EV infrastructure,” he added.

Kia’s ‘ACE’ strategy – to produce Autonomous, Connected and ECO/Electric cars – will see the brand adopt connected car technologies across every vehicle segment by 2030. Further to this, the company plans to offer 16 electrified vehicles by 2025. The company continues to invest in the development and commercialisation of autonomous driving and eco-friendly vehicles.

Kia has been developing eco-friendly vehicle technology for over twenty years. In 2009, it launched the sub-brand ‘EcoDynamics’ in the pursuit of zero emissions vehicles. Since the introduction of Kia’s first ‘EcoDynamics’ vehicle, the Forte LPi Hybrid in 2009, Kia has expanded its line-up of eco-friendly vehicles to three hybrids, two plug-in hybrids and two battery electric vehicles across the global markets.

It also continues to develop fuel-cell electric vehicle technology. The Niro Hybrid and Niro Plug-in Hybrid are already among the best-selling hybrid vehicles globally, employing parallel hybrid powertrains which switch between petrol and electric power – or offer a combination of both, recharging their batteries whenever possible to maximize electric vehicle range.