14 all-electric Kia’s by 2027
Kia has announced it plans to sell 1.2 million battery electric vehicles (BEVs) annually by 2030; making up more than a quarter of its four-million-unit sales target per year. The figures build on Kia’s ‘Plan S’ strategy, first announced in 2020, which is a roadmap for the South Korean brand to evolve into a ‘Sustainable Mobility Solutions Provider.’
If successful, it will represent a 27% increase from Kia’s 2022 sales target. This will include increasing its BEV range to 14 models by 2027, with at least two BEV model launches per year from 2023. This is an increase from its plan to launch 11 models by 2026, thanks to the introduction of an electric pickup truck and an entry-level BEV model intended for emerging markets. It has also confirmed every BEV model will feature a GT performance derivative in the mould of the EV6 GT.
Its flagship EV9 electric model will arrive in 2023, with the large seven-seat SUV measuring around five metres in length and offering acceleration from 0-62mph in around five seconds. It will also be capable of more than 330 miles on a single charge and be able to add 62 miles of driving range from a six-minute charge. The EV9 will also usher in over-the-air (OTA) services and ‘Feature on Demand’, allowing owners to selectively purchase ‘software functions’ in a similar style to Tesla cars. It will also be the first model to introduce Kia’s ‘AutoMode’ autonomous driving capability.
Kia is predicting that over 80% of its BEV sales in 2030 will be accounted for by Korea, North America, Europe and China, with BEVs making up a 45% share of Kia sales in these important markets. To keep up with its shifting strategy, Kia will also make changes to its global facilities. Korea will be its global hub for research, development, production and supply of EVs, while other production sites will produce EVs catering to specific markets. Europe will focus on building small and medium-sized EVs from 2025, while the US will build electrified medium-sized SUVs and pickups from 2024. Battery production will ramp up from 13GWh to 119GWh by the end of this decade and is set to include an Indonesian battery joint venture.
Along with its sales targets, Kia also wants to expand its connected car and autonomous driving technologies to all new vehicles and become the top brand worldwide in the ‘global purpose-built vehicle (PBV) market by 2030.’ The latter will be specialised vehicles produced at scale to meet the demands of customers ‘based on their specific needs.’ Kia has identified a growing need for delivery and logistics services following an acceleration in e-commerce during the Covid-19 pandemic, and will initially develop PBV models derived from the Niro Plus that’s set for introduction later in 2022. Based on the Niro available in showrooms, the Niro Plus has been designed to suit taxi and carhailing services.
In the longer term, Kia is set to develop dedicated PBVs that use a flat, skateboard electric vehicle platform which can be adjusted in ‘size and shape’ according to its intended purpose. This is planned for 2025 and will be a ‘medium-sized vehicle, with inherent scalability’ that’s designed to last for 370,000 miles (600,000km). It will also get over-the-air functions and autonomous driving technology to help bring down operating costs. With the anticipated growth of the PBV market, Kia plans to expand the range of vehicles it offers from ‘micro to large PBVs that can potentially offer an alternative to public transportation or even be used as mobile offices.’