Kia India is betting on a wide range of powertrains to capture a larger share of the Indian passenger vehicle market. In a recent interview, Atul Sood, Senior Vice President of Sales & Marketing at Kia India, outlined the company’s multi-technology strategy covering pure electric vehicles, strong hybrids and CNG, alongside an ambitious target of 10 models by 2030.
The company already sells the imported EV6 and EV9 in India. With the recently launched Syros EV, it now has its second made-in-India electric model after the Carens Clavis EV. This forms part of a broader roadmap stretching to 2030 that deliberately avoids putting all eggs in one technological basket.
“We’re looking at the complete gamut of technologies available,” Sood said. “We want to give all options to our customers, so then we leave it to them to decide what they want to go in for.” Of the planned 10 models by 2030, eight will feature some form of electrified powertrain—encompassing battery-electric vehicles as well as strong hybrids.
Strong Hybrid Seltos in Development
The multi-path approach is most evident in the Seltos. Sood confirmed that Kia is actively working on a strong hybrid version of its popular midsize SUV. The current priority is localising the hybrid technology so it can be offered at a competitive price. No specific timeline has been shared. Asked whether Kia would follow its sibling Hyundai in launching a fully electric Seltos (along the lines of the Creta EV), Sood did not rule it out but said the company is only “studying” the option at present, with no concrete plan in place.
Syros EV Focus
On the newly launched Syros EV—Kia’s most accessible electric offering—Sood noted that the company deliberately avoided locking the model into a single price segment. EV buyers, he argued, often decide on the powertrain first before choosing a body style or segment.
The Syros EV is available with two battery options: a longer-range pack tested at 526 km and a 42 kWh version rated at 443 km, targeting long-distance and city/short intercity use respectively. To boost adoption, Kia is offering an 80% buyback guarantee after three years for personal buyers (as an introductory offer) along with a lifetime warranty on the high-voltage battery for the first owner. Sood acknowledged that making the warranty transferable to subsequent owners could further strengthen used-EV confidence and said the company is studying the possibility.
Sales Momentum and 2030 Targets
Kia’s sales grew about 26% in the first half of the year against industry growth of roughly 20%, lifting market share to 6.2% from around 6% a year earlier. The 2026 Seltos performed particularly strongly, growing nearly 65% in the B-SUV segment versus about 40% for the segment overall.
By 2030, Kia is targeting annual sales of 410,000 units in India, equivalent to a 7.6% market share. Achieving that goal, Sood indicated, will depend less on betting exclusively on one technology and more on being ready with a full suite of options—electric, strong hybrid and CNG—so customers can choose what suits them best.
Kia’s strategy reflects a pragmatic reading of the Indian market, where infrastructure, affordability, range anxiety and fuel preferences continue to vary widely across regions and customer segments. By covering multiple powertrain pathways and expanding its model count, the company aims to stay relevant no matter which technology ultimately gains the upper hand.
