Kia will enter the world of commerical automobiles in 2025 with an all-electric van referred to as PV5.
The Kia PV5, revealed at CES in Las Vegas, is the primary of a future line-up of what Kia calls PBVs, which stands for Platform Beyond Vehicle. Kia has proven off a number of idea variations of those PBVs at CES alongside the PV5, together with smaller PV1 and PV3 fashions and a bigger PV7, in addition to completely different variations of the PV5 itself, as a part of plans to ramp up its providing of multi-purpose vehicles within the coming decade.
The PV5 will launch first, in 2025, and is the primary mannequin to return from a brand new manufacturing facility in Korea – with an preliminary capability of 150,000 items per yr – designed solely to provide PBVs utilizing a bespoke and extra versatile manufacturing course of.
The PV5 is 4.7 metres lengthy and has a punchy goal value of €35,000 (£30,600) for an entry-level mannequin, though what measurement battery it should have and an indicated vary has but to be disclosed. An extended-wheelbase model is feasible.
It will likely be constructed on a specially-adpated model of the E-GMP platform used on the likes of the Kia EV6 and new Kia EV9 electric cars. Unlike these fashions, the PV5 will likely be natively front-wheel drive and has a 400V electrical structure moderately than the 800V of the street automobiles.
Two variations of the PV5 confirmed to be provided at launch are a seven-seat People Mover – a rival to the new electric Ford Tourneo Custom – and a High Roof panel van model that maximises cargo house. Kia is concentrating on small and medium companies, together with utility firms, with this van initially. The pair of PV5s is ready to achieve the UK in 2026.
The People Mover will attraction to taxi firms and Kia has confirmed it’s in talks with Uber round a provide deal, and the agency indicated that the taxi big was influencing parts of the PV5’s design and configuration.
There are additionally plans for an autonomous Robotaxi model of the PB5, which can be previewed at CES because the PV5-R. A manufacturing date of 2028 is mooted for this mannequin, which may have Level 4 autonomous capabilities and as such the introduction of which will likely be restricted by laws.
The remaining model of the PV5 is a pick-up truck, though the corporate admits that is extra to point out the configurability of the platform moderately than a mannequin with manufacturing intent. The firm does nevertheless have plans for a inside combustion engine-powered pick-up in some world markets – however that’s separate from this undertaking.
The one fastened factor of the inside of all of the PV5’s is the ‘driver zone’ cabin, with the remaining customisable by way of using varied interchangeable modules. For instance, when in passenger mode, the world historically used for a passenger seat can function a safe space for holding baggage, whereas a wide range of seat sorts may be positioned in various layouts.