Kia Asia Pacific has celebrated 2024 Kia EV Day, following the success of the Kia EV Day in 2023. This latest event, held in Taiwan, included market-ready and concept EVs.
Kia’s reinvention as a sustainable mobility company kicked off in 2021 with a new tag line “Movement that Inspires”.
Now in 2024 Kia is saying that it is an EV-centric brand for everyone. Kia representatives emphasised their goal of introducing a full line-up of EVs at various price points. Currently the least expensive EV5 kicks off at $68k. However, in the first half of next year Kia is delivering two new smaller less expensive EVs.
The showpiece of the Asia Pacific meeting was the incoming EV3, which debuts here in Q2 next year. It is 4.3m long, seats five, has range of 600km and can fast charge 10-80 per cent in just over 30min.
EV3 will feature trickle-down technology from EV9. Kia says it will set new standards in the compact EV SUV segment. Adopting the ‘Opposites United’ design philosophy, Kia’s EV3 features boxy rear fenders, a sloping roofline, and robust stance, delivering a modern sporty and appealing design.
Like others in the EV range, the EV3 is underpinned by the E-GMP (Electric Global Modular Platform) and features Electric Dynamic Torque Vectoring Control (eDTVC) for optimum traction on the move. This combines partial braking and motor torque compensation to maintain a safe cornering line. Torque is fed to the outside wheel while cornering, and the inside wheel is slowed by braking.
EV3 will go on display here this weekend at the Take Charge Expo in Christchurch.
Also on show were the Concept PV5 and Concept EV4. The latter is a pure EV that will slot in between EV5 and EV3 on size and price. Who’d have guessed? Kia says it merges “inspired aesthetics with cutting-edge technology to present a striking silhouette with a spacious driver-centric design delivering modern luxury and an entirely new type of EV sedan.”
The sporty electric fastback is launching here next year towards the end of winter.
Also on show was the PV5 Concept, Kia’s first dedicated Platform Beyond Vehicle (PBV). It’s a concept that spans different vehicle classes, providing a total mobility solution that majors on space and software technology. Designed with diverse uses in mind, from business to adventure, Kia sees the PV5 used primarily in ride hailing, logistics and personal lifestyle activities.
The company plans to expand its range of Platform Beyond Vehicles. The company will continue to provide hybrid and ICE power for appropriate markets.
Kia’s aims is to sell 1.6 million EVs annually by 2030.
The APAC event also underscored Kia’s commitment to enhancing customer experience through premium and personalised technologies deployed across all customer touchpoints, from in-store to in-car, and even at home or when on mobile.
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