60% of Hyundai and Kia Vehicles Sold in France Are Eco-Friendly Cars

Strengthening European Market Penetration with Casper Electric and EV3

Kia EV3 (left) and Hyundai Casper Electric

In France, eco-friendly vehicles such as electric vehicles (EV) and hybrid electric vehicles (HEV) accounted for about 6 out of 10 cars sold by Hyundai Motor Company and Kia.

According to Hyundai Motor Company and Kia on the 31st, the two companies sold a total of 28,354 eco-friendly vehicles in France during the first half of this year. This represents 59.9% of the total 47,307 vehicles sold in France, including internal combustion engine vehicles.

By company, Hyundai's eco-friendly vehicle share was 62.4% (14,860 units), while Kia's was 57.5% (13,494 units). For Hyundai, the Kona Hybrid (3,676 units) saw a 31.4% increase in sales compared to the same period last year, boosted by the launch of the second-generation full model change.

Kia's Niro Hybrid (2,811 units) and Sportage Hybrid (7,072 units) sales increased by 80.3% and 29.1%, respectively, compared to the same period last year. As a result, Kia's eco-friendly vehicle sales in France reached 13,494 units, an 11.1% increase year-on-year.

Hyundai Motor Company and Kia plan to further increase the share of eco-friendly vehicles by introducing new electric vehicles to the European market. Hyundai will launch the Casper Electric (local name: Inster), and Kia plans to release the compact electric vehicle EV3 in Europe within this year.

The Casper Electric is classified as a mini car (A-segment) under European standards, while the Kia EV3 is a small car (B-segment) electric vehicle. With the launch of the Casper Electric, Hyundai will be able to offer an electric vehicle lineup ranging from A-segment to B-segment (Kona Electric) and C-segment (Ioniq 5 and 6).

Kia's EV3, like the EV6 and EV9, is an electric vehicle based on the dedicated platform (E-GMP). According to European certification (WLTP), it has a single-charge driving range of over 600 km. It can travel from Paris, France to Geneva, Switzerland without recharging.

After the conclusion of the 2024 Paris Olympics, Kia will participate in the Paris Motor Show in October. Kia's strategic models, including the EV3, will be exhibited. This marks Kia's first attendance at the Paris Motor Show in six years since 2018.