Hyundai Motor America announced Wednesday that it will show a hybrid Sonata at November's Los Angeles International Auto Show and will eventually sell the vehicles in the United States.
Jim Trainor, manager of product public relations for Hyundai, said it is premature to guess when the vehicle will go on sale in the United States or where it will be made.
All Sonatas sold in the U.S. now are built in Montgomery. Hyundai also makes some of the cars in Korea for the Asian market.
He said if the new model is not made in Montgomery, it should not affect the plant's operations.
"I think it will supplement what we are doing with the new Sonata," he said. "This is years down the road."
Trainor said the company announced previously its intention to enter the hybrid market, but Wednesday was the company's most specific statement on its plans.
"We are going to sell a hybrid Sonata in the states," he said.
Hyundai's plans are for a gasoline-electric vehicle, not a plug-in electric car with a back-up gasoline engine.
Trainor said the company is likely to make just one display model for the Los Angeles show and then decide where to make the production model later.
The company is to announce additional details, such as sales dates, at the show. Trainor said he didn't know if Hyundai will announce the production site at that time.
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