Hyundai Motor America plans to release 14 new alternative-fuel models in the U.S. by 2020 to meet looming CAFE and ZEV targets, according to CEO Dave Zuchowski.
The forthcoming green additions are for Hyundai only and not the luxury Genesis division and will include five hybrids, four plug-in hybrids, four electric vehicles and one fuel cell vehicle, Zuchowski announced Tuesday afternoon at AutoConferenceLA, an annual event hosted by JD Power and NADA in downtown Los Angeles on the eve of the Los Angeles auto show.
The product assault is aimed at satisfying the fuel efficiency deadlines that Zuchowski said wakes him “up in the middle of the night in a cold sweat,” particularly given the tepid levels of enthusiasm that U.S. consumers have shown toward green vehicles, thanks largely to low gasoline prices.
Missing the targets could mean as much as $125 million in annual CAFE and ZEV fines for Hyundai. But rather than seek alternatives to those targets, Zuchowski is focused on creating alternative fuel Hyundai models that not only meet the standards, but do so with vehicles that solve current green car shortcomings: cost, battery range, utility and performance.
The 14 alternative-powered vehicles Zuchowski mentioned include the trio of Ioniq models already announced and it mimics Kia’s global plans for 14 green models globally by 2020 disclosed last month. Additionally, all Hyundai battery electric, hybrid and PHEV models would come with a lifetime warranty on the battery, Zuchowski said.
