Hyundai Motor and Kia Corporation ceased domestic production of diesel light trucks last month, ahead of new environmental regulations set to come into force in South Korea at the beginning of 2024 which will restrict local sales.
The two automakers, which dominate the domestic light truck segment with the Hyundai Porter and Kia Bongo, have replaced diesel versions with models powered by liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) with a new turbocharged T-LPDi 2.5-litre engine developed to ease concerns over a lack of power compared with the outgoing unit.
The Porter and Bongo, widely used as local delivery vehicles, are also gaining in popularity as battery electric vehicles (BEVs). In the first nine months of 2023 Hyundai sold 52,200 diesel Porters in its home market and 21,600 BEVs.
Total domestic sales of the Kia Bongo in this period amounted to 48,400 units.
The government is also providing up to KRW9m won (US$6,830) to owners as an incentive to scrap diesel models and replace with LPG or BEV versions.
