ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Hyundai Motor Co. said its plan for an expanded crossover lineup for the U.S. will include a battery-electric vehicle, a fuel cell offering, a diesel utility vehicle and an A-segment vehicle slotted below the coming Kona subcompact.
In a Wednesday presentation at Hyundai's r&d center near here, Mike O'Brien, vice president of product planning for Hyundai Motor America, acknowledged that Hyundai has been slow to meet demand for crossovers, both in terms of production capacity and vehicle range.
That will change soon, O'Brien said, with the introduction of eight new or re-engineered crossovers by 2020, including the Kona and rolling out at the Los Angeles, Detroit and New York auto shows.
"Pretty soon we are going to have the most diverse CUV powertrain lineup in the industry," O'Brien said in a statement.
Diesel powertrains have lost some of their appeal for automakers in the wake of Volkswagen's diesel emissions scandal.
But O'Brien said Hyundai sees an opportunity with the diesel crossover to cater to consumers who move up from a sedan to a crossover but who are disappointed with the fuel economy of a larger vehicle.
