SEOUL, KOREA - Hyundai Motor and Kia Motors were named as the greenest automobile brands in the United States by the non-profit science advocacy organization Union of Concerned Scientists.
The organization highly recognized the two Korean car makers’ efforts to improve fuel efficiency through turbocharging and engine downsizing, and to produce hybrid vehicles such as Hyundai Sonata and Kia Optima.
The union noted, “As Hyundai Motor and Kia Motors accelerate efforts to improve fuel efficiency and produce hybrid vehicles, Honda, hitherto the leader in this area, has a lot to catch up to regain the top spot in the eco-friendly automobile brand ranking.”
This year marked the sixth anniversary for the union’s eco-friendly automobile brand ranking. Honda, which had dominated the top position, slid to the No. 2 spot this year.
Toyota, Nissan, and Volkswagen shared the third place, while a group of U.S. automakers, including Ford, General Motors, and Chrysler remained at the bottom.
