Hyundai Motor Group, comprising mainly the Hyundai and Kia brands, recently notified their sales outlets across the country of their decision to officially discontinue the production of the diesel-powered Hyundai Porter and Kia Bongo.

The brands will cease manufacturing these compact trucks in November and replace them with Autogas vehicles in line with the industry’s shift toward eco-friendly mobility. From December, the Hyundai Porter and the Kia Bongo will feature a next-generation 2.5-litre LPG-powered T-LPDi turbo engine.

The two models have widely been used by delivery service operators in Korea for two decades. The production of the 1-tonne Kia Bongo automatic transmission diesel model – one of the most popular such vehicles – already ceased on July 14.

Under the government’s strengthened environmental regulations, delivery service providers will be banned from registering new diesel vehicles starting in January. The end of the production of the diesel compact trucks is also in line with the tougher Euro 7 emission rules, Hyundai Motor Group officials said.

Hyundai and Kia began developing the next-generation T-LPDi direct injection turbo engine with improved functions a decade ago.

According to Hyundai, new Autogas Bongo and Porter trucks equipped with this engine will be 10% more fuel-efficient than the existing LPG-powered cars.

Source: Ked Global

30 August