Kia plans to roll-out 16 new electric or hybrid models by 2025

South Korean car maker is the latest manufacturer eyeing expansion of its line-up beyond petrol

The 2015 Kia Soul EV is shown while charging on display at the LA Auto Show's press and trade day in Los Angeles November 20, 2014. The LA Auto Show opens to the public on November 21 will run until November 30. AFP PHOTO/Frederic J. BROWN / AFP PHOTO / FREDERIC J. BROWN
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Kia Motors is the latest automaker to get amped up about electrification, pledging to roll-out 16 new advanced power-train vehicles by 2025 as it looks to further expand its line-up beyond gasoline.

The car maker - which displayed at CES a battery-only concept of its Niro subcompact sport utility vehicle with 383 kilometres of driving range - will introduce a combination of gas-electric and plug-in hybrids, plus pure-electric models and a fuel-cell electric vehicle that will be released in 2020. Of the 16 new models, 10 will arrive in the United States by 2020, spokesman James Bell said.

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Seeking to capitalise on the high-tech halo of the annual CES event, the South Korean car maker also said on Monday it plans to begin pilot testing fully self-driving cars in select urban areas by 2021. In addition, every Kia sold will be connected to a global communications network to help with self-driving and other functions by 2030.

The company will also expand its WiBLE car-sharing service from South Korea to Europe and other regions later this year, it said.

Kia has not decided yet whether to bring WiBLE to the US, Mr Bell said.