Kia is following up a powerful yr for its passenger EVs by sharing what it needs to do for companies trying to go electrical. The Korean automaker simply unveiled at CES 2024 a forthcoming lineup of electrical vans, vans, ride-hailing and last-mile supply autos all set to be constructed on a brand new modular platform.
And it seems to have already got its first buyer. The corporate introduced through the Monday press convention that’s has shaped a worldwide partnership with Uber, in response to Pierre-Martin Bos, vp of Kia’s new so-called PVB enterprise division.
Not solely will the underlying electrical powertrain be modular — much like different skateboard-style designs which have turn into well-liked throughout the trade — however the tops of those autos will likely be as properly. What that appears like in observe, in response to Kia, are autos with fastened driver cabs that may have the remainder of the automobile’s cabin swapped out.
Kia PBV Idea Lineup. Picture Credit: Kia
These cabins (Kia calls them “life modules”) hook up with the chassis utilizing each mechanical couplings and electromagnets, although Kia was gentle on the small print about how that may work.
Kia was gentle on specs, however mentioned it’s constructing a devoted plant to make them in South Korea that it claims will likely be operational in 2025. Kia expects an annual capability of 150,000 autos however mentioned that might develop to 300,000 globally.
Picture Credit: Kirsten Korosec
The primary mannequin to be made would be the Kia PV5, a three-row van with futuristic styling slated to hit the highway in 2025 at a price ticket of round $35,000. Kia additionally confirmed renders of a bigger model (the PV7) due in 2027 and a smaller, extra Sensible Automobile-sized possibility (the PV1). The corporate shared that it plans a robotaxi model may are available in 2028, and that autos constructed on the platform could finally be accessible to common customers.
The look of the autos is pretty stark and utilitarian. None of them are remotely as cute as sibling firm Hyundai’s head-turning Staria van. Design-wise, they don’t seem to be all that dissimilar from what struggling EV startup Canoo has spent the previous couple of years promising to supply at scale. Hyundai and Canoo had been as soon as concerned in a partnership that was abruptly referred to as off by the EV startup’s CEO, who made vague allusions at the time about defending his firm’s IP.
This put up has been up to date with particulars from Kia’s CES 2024 press convention.
