South Korea's largest automaker Hyundai Motor Group will seek to significantly increase its sales of energy-efficient hybrid cars next week, group officials said Tuesday, amid increasing government efforts to promote the use of clean energy.

Hyundai Motor Group, the world's fifth-largest automaker, has the country's two leading automakers Hyundai Motor Co. and Kia Motors Corp. under its wing.

"The group's sales target for mid-size hybrid cars, including the Kia K5 hybrid, will be 28,000 units, with its sales target for all hybrid cars, including smaller models, to be set at over 30,000," a group official said.

The sales target was set as Hyundai Motor Co. unveiled the hybrid version of the Sonata, its iconic passenger car.

In addition to hybrid cars that usually combine electric motors with an internal combustion engine to power the vehicle, the automotive group is also moving to begin sales of fuel-cell electric vehicles that use only fuel-cells or batteries to power the vehicle.

An official from Hyundai Motor Co. said the company will launch a new six-year, 120,000-kilometer warranty program for its hybrid cars to promote their sales. 

(Yonhap News)