Kia will only sell electric cars in Europe by 2035, the Korean brand confirmed this morning as it becomes the latest auto maker to stamp a date to ditch the internal combustion engine.
Bosses said Europe will be the first market where it stops selling petrol and diesel cars and will do the same across key global markets five years later, by 2040.
It’s part of a pledge for the manufacturer to be entirely carbon neutral by 2045.
Kia the latest car maker to ditch petrol and diesel: The Korean manufacturer says it will sell only electric – and potentially hydrogen fuel cell electric – vehicles in Europe from 2035
The news comes a day after Kia – and sister brand Hyundai – failed to put their names to the COP26 pledge to eliminate all new vehicle emissions by 2040.
The two Korean powerhouses joined some of the biggest auto manufacturers in the world – including Volkswagen, Toyota, Stellantis and BMW – by shunning yesterday’s Glasgow Declaration on Zero Emission Cars and Vans.
The agreement was revealed by Britain on Wednesday during the climate summit and asked car makers, governments, cities, businesses, investors and financial institutions to ‘work towards’ all sales of new cars and vans to be fully zero-emissions in ‘leading markets’ by 2035 and globally by 2040.
Despite not joining the pledge, Kia’s announcement today commits to fully electrifying its vehicle line-up in Europe by 2035 – and the same across major global markets by 2040.
Hosung Song, president and chief executive of Kia, said: ‘For us, it is not only about setting goals and reaching targets. It is about setting a vision that will inspire others to join the movement to benefit humanity and protect the environment.
‘In line with our vision of becoming a sustainable mobility solutions provider, we commit to achieving carbon neutrality by 2045.’
Kia, which currently sells three fully-electric cars in Britain – the e-Niro (pictured), EV6 and Soul EV – plans to ramp up the number of zero-emission vehicles in its range
The Kia EV6 (pictured) is one of the most impressive electric cars on the market today with a range of up to 328 miles
The company said it also plans to introduce its first hydrogen fuel cell vehicle in 2028, likely using next-generation technology being developed by Hyundai, with some input from Ineos Automotive, which is planning a hydrogen fuel cell Grenadier 4X4 using shared powertrains.
A hydrogen model will be in addition to the seven new electric vehicles Kia has planned for launch between now and 2027 as part of its existing ‘Plan S’ strategy.
One new all-electric car it is likely to unveil soon is a seven-seat SUV, which it is due to be previewed at next week’s LA Auto Show as the Concept EV9. However, this is only likely to be offered to the American and Middle Eastern markets.
Kia says it aims to achieve carbon neutrality in just over 20 years by reducing carbon emissions in all operational facets, from supply, logistics, vehicle production and vehicle use through to disposal of waste.
Its plant in Žilina, Slovakia has already made the switch to green energy.
By 2045, the Korean firm hopes to have reduced 97 per cent of the company’s 2019 level of carbon emissions.
It says it will attain carbon neutrality by ‘implementing additional measures to fully offset its remaining carbon emissions’.
The brand also announced it is working in partnership with non-profitable organisation The Ocean Cleanup to take plastic waste gathered from river cleanups to then use in the production of new vehicles.
Kia is planning to increase the company’s percentage of plastic re-use to 20 per cent by 2030, it says.
One new all-electric car Kia is likely to unveil soon is a seven-seat SUV, which it is due to preview as the Concept EV9
Kia has only released teaser images of the vehicle before unveiling the concept in full next week (17 November)
Kia says it aims to achieve carbon neutrality in just over 20 years by reducing carbon emissions in all operational facets. It’s Žilina factory in Slovakia is already using green energy
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