Yahoo Autos Kia Reveals Modular EV Van Lineup at CES That Will Hit the Road in 2025
Kia is breaking into the commercial van segment with a trio of electric cargo carriers, revealed at CES (formerly known as the Consumer Electronics Show) in Las Vegas.
Production of the first van, the PV5, will begin in 2025 in South Korea. It will come with a variety of bodies, from a cargo van to a robotaxi.
The PV5 will later be joined by a tiny PV1, designed for narrow city streets, and a larger PV7, both of which sport similar smooth bodywork to the PV5's.
The commercial-van market has long been dominated by Ford, Chevrolet, and Ram, but Kia aims to shake up the game with its Platform Beyond Vehicle division. Introduced at the 2024 Consumer Electronics Show, the new business is previewed by three electric concepts and has grandiose visions of "revolutionizing the mobility industry" and advancing parent company Hyundai Motor Group's goals in "robotics, Advanced Air Mobility, and autonomous driving."
Standardized 'Life Modules' Change Van's Role
The central idea is a single chassis that will be adaptable to fit a variety of mobility needs. The driver's cockpit will sit ahead of interchangeable bodies, which Kia calls "life modules." The bodies will be connected to the vehicle's base platform via a hybrid electromagnetic and mechanical coupling technology, allowing the vehicle, for example, to swap from a taxi to a delivery van and even into a personal vehicle for the weekends.
The life modules will be "shipped in standardized, convenient kit form," Kia says, so that changing bodies in the field will be a quick and intuitive process. Kia is planning a three-phase approach for its PBV business, and the first step is only a few years away, when a production version of the Concept PV5 will arrive.
Five Versions Are Coming
Designed for ride-hailing and delivery services, the PV5 will employ software and data connectivity to allow for easy management of a large fleet of vehicles. The PV5 features a smooth look and large doors that reveal a pillarless cargo hold that makes the most of its space with a lengthy wheelbase and flat floor. Five versions of the PV5 will be offered when it goes into production: Basic, Van, High Roof, Robotaxi, and Chassis Cab.
Although all based on the same chassis, each PV5 serves a unique purpose. The PV5 Basic features wide double doors and three rows of seating, and some images show seats that fold upward to provide room for wheelchairs and mobility scooters. The Van model, meanwhile, focuses on cargo transport with enough space for an adult to stand upright inside. The High Roof version takes this further with even more headroom, and the cabin converts into a mobile office with a desk space and a steering wheel that folds upwards into a lamp.
The Robotaxi variant will form a future mobility service operated by Motional, a joint venture between Hyundai Motor Group and automotive tech supplier Aptiv. This model is differentiated by an array of sensors atop its roof, while a screen in the bumper can display pertinent messages. Finally, the hassis Cab model allows customers to configure the PV5 for more specialized business cases.
The second phase of Kia's master plan will expand the lineup with two additional vans. The PV7 will arrive as the largest carrier, with increased interior space and "impressive driving range." The PV1, meanwhile, will be the peewee in the lineup, focusing on "agile and short-distance logistics transportation, using driving modules to minimize turning radius even in narrow spaces." An integrated rail system on the ceiling, floor, side panels, and exterior will allow the vans to be customized for the needs of each customer, as well as the easy transition of goods between vehicles.
Setting Up for Fleets and Businesses
The final phase of Kia's PBV business feels a bit more pie-in-the-sky, with Kia aiming to intertwine the PBVs with "the future mobility ecosystem." The PBV's dedicated business arm will include both the vans themselves as well as software solutions and other partnerships. The infotainment systems in the vans will be designed to link to third-party business-specific apps, while a fleet management software will let business owners oversee multiple vehicles and gain insights on the efficiency of their vehicles, route planning, and inventory usage. Real-time data and artificial intelligence will also be used for predictive maintenance, and Kia's unified software will also bring optimized charging planning based on battery levels, routes, schedules, and breaks for the drivers.
Kia says it is setting up partnerships with several companies, including Uber, for future use of its PBVs. Kia also aims to work with robotics through its connection to Boston Dynamics, known for their dancing robot dogs, which could be utilized for loading and unloading inventory. Kia is also planing to work with flying electric taxi startup Supernal, part of Hyundai Motor Group, while Level 4 autonomous driving will be incorporated for the Motional-operated robotaxi version of the PV5.
A dedicated factory for the PBV lineup is being constructed in Hwaseong, South Korea, with the goal of getting the plant up and running in 2025 with an annual capacity of 150,000 units. Kia hasn't said whether the PV5, and eventually the PV7 and PV1, will be offered in the United States. A spokesperson said the company can't yet comment on production and sales plans.
If they are, they will likely be subject to the "chicken tax," a 25 percent import tariff on light trucks that has helped American automakers maintain their stranglehold on the pickup truck and van segments. Loopholes do exist, however—some companies have imported their vans in the form of a knock-down kit that is reassembled in the U.S., while others have brought their vans over as passenger versions that are later converted for cargo use.
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