Hybrid car sales on track to hit all-time high: data

SEOUL, July 30 (Yonhap) -- Sales of hybrid electric cars in South Korea are on track to reach an all-time high in 2015 amid growing demand for vehicles with better fuel efficiency, industry data showed Thursday. According to the data, 15,953 units of locally produced hybrid electric cars were sold here during the first half of the year, about 1,000 units more than a year earlier. If the current sales pace continues, they are expected to easily renew the current record set in 2012, when 31,236 hybrid vehicles were sold, observers said. They expect the sales of hybrid cars will reach around 33,000-34,000 units by the end of the year. The sales pace could accelerate in the coming months as local automakers are poised to roll out their new hybrid models. Hyundai Motor Co., South Korea's top automaker, plans to launch its first "dedicated" hybrid model later this year, which it hopes will compete with Toyota's Prius, the best-seller in the segment. A company source earlier told Yonhap News Agency that the new hybrid model will likely be unveiled "as early as November" and will exceed the Prius in terms of fuel efficiency and affordability. Kia Motors Corp., an affiliate of Hyundai Motor, also plans to take the wraps off its new hybrid vehicle model that's based on the all-new K5 midsize sedan during the fourth quarter. kokobj@yna.co.kr (END)