Kia unveils new Niro SUV as EV race heats up

Kia unveiled the new Niro compact SUV with full-electric and hybrid powertrains as the automaker and its affiliate Hyundai seek to catch up in the EV market.

The new Niro, an upgraded version of the model first released in 2016, will be available as a hybrid in the first quarter of 2022 and as a full-electric model later in the first half, the automaker said as the car was presented at the Seoul auto show on Thursday.

Kia did not disclose specs of the new model, including range or price.

"The all-new Kia Niro is an eco-friendly model that shows our will to realize sustainability," CEO Ho-Sung Song told reporters at the auto show.

The car uses environmentally friendly materials, such as recycled fibers and benzene-free paint. The automaker aims to use 20 percent recycled plastic in all models by 2030.

The first-generation Niro gained popularity in Europe because of its price competitiveness and good driving range, said Kim Jin-Woo, an analyst at Korea Investment & Securities in Seoul.

"The new Niro could be a reasonable choice for consumers seeking a compact electric vehicle if it has a driving range of more than 350 kilometers," he said.

The previous model had a range of about 385 kilometers (217 miles) and cost around 46 million won ($38,575).

Kia has sold 75,360 Niros this year in Europe through October, according to JATO Dynamics, an 18.2 percent increase over 2020. The Niro ranked ninth among mainstream compact SUVs through September, according to JATO.

Overall, Kia was the No. 6 seller of EVs in Europe in the first half, according to data from the auto analyst Matthias Schmidt.