The Korean automaker that offers the Niro plug-in hybrid is Kia.
The Kia Niro is a subcompact crossover developed as part of Kia’s electrification-focused lineup. It first went on sale in South Korea in 2016, with the conventional hybrid arriving before the plug-in hybrid and battery-electric versions. The Niro Plug-in Hybrid uses a gasoline engine, an electric motor and a rechargeable traction battery.
Unlike a regular hybrid, the plug-in version can be connected to an external power source and driven for a limited distance using stored electricity before operating more like a conventional hybrid. The first-generation Niro PHEV used an 8.9 kWh battery and retained the hybrid model’s six-speed dual-clutch transmission.
A common mix-up is Hyundai, Kia’s fellow company within the Hyundai Motor Group. Hyundai offers its own electrified vehicles, including the Ioniq line, but the Niro is a Kia model. Genesis is the group’s premium brand and does not manufacture the Niro.