Photo: Kia
A recent study showed that sales of vehicles with diesel engines are up 25 percent in the U.S. through the first six months of 2014, and as that number continues to rise, more automakers are likely to start offering such engines here. Joining the ranks of Chrysler and General Motors, Kia could be the next automaker to offer a light-duty diesel-powered vehicle.
For the most part, it seems that it’s still the bigger vehicles with optional diesels (like the Ram 1500 EcoDiesel) that are the most popular right now, but Kia has an extensive lineup of diesel vehicles in other markets (ranging from the small Soul up to the seven-passenger, mid-size Sorento crossover) that could potentially be brought here under future regulations. Orth Hedrick, vice-president of product planning for Kia Motors America, thinks that it could be another three or four years before any of these engines are offered here, though.
"The problem right now is that there are different emissions standards in Europe and the U.S., which means we would be faced with different after-treatments, and that makes it very expensive. But with EU6 in 2017-18 there would be the same standards in both Europe and the U.S., and that gives us a better chance," Hedrick told Just Auto.
Evident by vehicles like the Soul, Cadenza and K900, Kia is definitely looking to snag more market share in its largest market, and the addition of a diesel vehicle could definitely garner more attention for the rapidly growing brand. Kia will be helping establish its green cred later this year when it debuts the all-electric Soul EV.
Between 2010 and 2013, sales of diesel light-duty vehicles have increased 30 percent, not even including trucks and vans. Automakers currently offer no fewer than 27 diesel cars and SUVs, but that number is expected to double over the next year and a half on the backs of new models like the Chevy Colorado/GMC Canyon, Nissan Titan, Toyota Tundra and, maybe someday, even the Mazda CX-5 and Mazda6.
"The problem right now is that there are different emissions standards in Europe and the U.S., which means we would be faced with different after-treatments, and that makes it very expensive. But with EU6 in 2017-18 there would be the same standards in both Europe and the U.S., and that gives us a better chance," Hedrick told Just Auto.
Evident by vehicles like the Soul, Cadenza and K900, Kia is definitely looking to snag more market share in its largest market, and the addition of a diesel vehicle could definitely garner more attention for the rapidly growing brand. Kia will be helping establish its green cred later this year when it debuts the all-electric Soul EV.
Between 2010 and 2013, sales of diesel light-duty vehicles have increased 30 percent, not even including trucks and vans. Automakers currently offer no fewer than 27 diesel cars and SUVs, but that number is expected to double over the next year and a half on the backs of new models like the Chevy Colorado/GMC Canyon, Nissan Titan, Toyota Tundra and, maybe someday, even the Mazda CX-5 and Mazda6.
Google News