Hyundai Motor aims to become world's most efficient automaker

SEOUL, Nov. 20 (Yonhap) -- Top South Korean automaker Hyundai Motor Co. said
Thursday it aims to meet the U.S. government's fuel-economy regulations by 2015,
five years ahead of a mandated deadline, as part of its efforts to become the
world's most efficient automaker.
"Hyundai aims to be the most fuel-efficient automaker on the planet," said John
Krafcik, vice president of product development and strategic planning at
Hyundai's U.S. subsidiary, in a statement released for the Los Angeles Auto Show.

The new Corporate Average Fuel Economy rule, announced by the U.S. Department of
Transportation in April this year, calls for automakers to raise the gas mileage
of their vehicles in order to slash carbon emissions and reduce gasoline
consumption.
Under the new federal requirements, automakers must increase their vehicles'
average fuel efficiency standard to 35.7 miles (59 kilometers) per gallon from
the current 27.5 by 2020, according to Hyundai.
At the Los Angeles exhibition, Hyundai unveiled its "Blue Drive" initiative to
achieve its goal of increasing the average gas mileage of its vehicles to 35
miles per gallon by 2015, according to the statement.
As part of the initiative, Hyundai plans to introduce its first gas-electric
hybrid version of the Sonata sedan in the U.S. market next year.
The Sonata hybrid will use the industry's first lithium polymer battery,
developed by LG Chem Ltd of South Korea, Hyundai said.
Compared with conventional nickel-metal hydride or lithium-ion batteries, lithium
polymer batteries are more durable and space-efficient, Hyundai said.
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