Background: Kia is going electric
Fully plugged in
Kia EV range
© press-inform – the press office
In the coming years, Kia will launch a general electric attack on the international competition. The South Koreans are presenting a complete vehicle family with plugs for the three global markets of Europe, China and the USA.
The Kia EV6, with its decidedly dynamic positioning, was just the beginning two years ago and even the chic premium competition from Europe is currently making big eyes when it comes to the elegant EV9. But it gets even better, because in the next three years the dynamic arm of the Hyundai Group will send four more electric vehicles to the various markets. “Our electrical portfolio should cover a wide range between 30,000 and 80,000 euros in the coming years,” explains Kia’s chief product planner Spencer Cho. The new three-pack of EV3, EV4 and EV5 is intended to compete against strong electric competition from China, Europe and the USA in a price range between 35,000 and 50,000 euros. The Kia EV2 is intended particularly for the European market, which, along with other models, will be produced in Slovakia from 2026 and is intended to attack compact crossovers internationally.
Kia has so far held back when it comes to making clear statements about the end of combustion engine models and currently does not want to commit itself here. “In the so-called emerging markets, electromobility will not happen as quickly as in other markets,” explains Kia CEO Ho Sung Song. But if you look at the models of the coming years, you will see that the most interesting models from Kia will be whirring purely electrically across the various continents. By 2026, every fourth new Kia sold will be an electric model; By 2030 it is expected to be almost 40 percent or 1.6 million vehicles per year. “Kia is committed to finding solutions to the concerns that continue to cause hesitation when purchasing a car,” highlights Ho Sung Song, “We will meet customers’ expectations by offering a full range of electric vehicles at different price points and improve the availability of the charging infrastructure.”
Expectations are particularly high for the new EV5, which, with a length of 4.62 meters, appears to be a spitting image of the EV9, which is higher in its class, even at second glance. Although the pleasing, angular SUV is also on the variable E-GMP platform that is home to numerous electric models from Hyundai, Kia and the luxury Genesis brand, the particularly fast 800-volt charging technology remains on the Kia EV5, which is initially only available in South Korea is manufactured, outside. Depending on the market, the EV5 customer can choose from an engine portfolio between 150 kW / 204 HP and 230 kW / 313 HP as well as front and all-wheel drive. Different battery suppliers for production in China and Korea also mean different capacities between 58 and 88 kWh with ranges of up to 720 kilometers. After the launch of the new Kia EV9 this quarter and the little SUV brother EV5 from 2025, the Hyundai subsidiary remains plugged in more confidently than ever. Next up are the boldly styled mid-range sedan EV4 and the two smaller electric SUVs called EV3 and the entry-level model EV2, which costs around 30,000 euros.
No electric car without the right infrastructure. The Koreans do not rely on their own charging network, but rather participate in relevant market-specific networks. In Europe, the focus is on the Ionity charging network, which plans to offer 7,000 fast charging points by 2025. In North America, Kia and Hyundai are part of a large-scale network cooperation that also includes companies such as Stellantis, BMW, General Motors, Mercedes and Honda. More than 30,000 fast charging points are expected to be built in North America by 2030. A particular focus is on the native Korean charging network Epit, which is expected to grow to 3,500 stations in the next two years.