At the 2024 Consumer Electronics Show, Kia joined the growing list of automakers unveiling electric van concepts, reflective of the industry’s push towards sustainability and the rising demand amidst the boom in delivery services. Americans have increasingly become accustomed to getting more items delivered, stimulating a growing need for electric vans among automakers and their corporate-fleet customers who aim to cut emissions.
Companies have already started tapping into this market with Rivian manufacturing electric delivery vans for Amazon, while also offering them to other businesses. Other key players are Ford with the E-Transit, General Motors through its subsidiary Brightdrop, and Stellantis, which plans to venture into this segment with its electric Ram Promaster EV vans.
Kia is already known for its range of gasoline-powered family vans such as the Kia Carnival, in conjunction with electric cars and SUVs. However, the launch of its commercial vans represents a new venture for the company. These vehicles cater more to the utility aspect, offering configurations for both passenger and cargo operations. They are typically used for services like package delivery or as mobile workspaces by professionals like plumbers and contractors.
Kia brings a strong focus on customization to the table, enabling its vehicles to easily adapt to different business requirements.
At the forefront of Kia’s range of three concept vehicles is a medium-sized van named the PV5. Despite Kia’s reluctance to label the vehicles as ‘vans’, their sliding doors and boxy shapes fit that category well. The PV5 is deemed to be the first of the series to be released for sale, boasting a high degree of adaptability for a variety of uses throughout a regular workday.
The PV5 design introduced by Kia features a dedicated “driver zone” comprising the driver’s seat and controls. The unique aspect is a distinct body section that can be detached, making the PV5 versatile enough to function as a passenger van during evenings and morph into a tailored work van during the day.
Kia also showcased the PV7, a significantly larger van, and the compact PV1, designed for navigating within urban environments. The PV7 is akin to large-capacity vans designed for massive cargo or furnished with several rows of seating for passengers. On the other hand, the PV1 bears similarity to small vans that prioritize mobility and parking convenience rather than extensive cargo space.
While the PV7 and PV1, Kia’s larger and smaller concept vans respectively, don’t offer the same level of flexibility and modularity as the PV5, they still provide highly customizable interiors that can be rapidly adjusted for various uses, although they lack the PV5’s ability to change an entire body section.
A company video demonstrated a van using four-wheel steering to maneuver in a tight space, and Kia has plans for these vans to be autonomous. However, it’s important to note that these are still concept vehicles, meaning features such as interchangeable body parts or four-wheel steering may not be included in the final production models.
The production of Kia’s vans, once initiated, will take place at a dedicated factory in South Korea, producing approximately 150,000 vans annually, according to the company.
In addition, Kia plans to offer an integrated fleet management system and a dedicated customer support team aimed specifically at its future commercial clientele. This mirrors the management and support systems provided by competitors such as Ford and General Motors for their large fleet customers.
Yet, crucial details regarding the pricing of the vans and their availability to customers remain undisclosed by Kia.
