Kia Reveals Plans for 3 Smaller, More Affordable EVs

pcmag.com:

Kia took the wraps off three new EVs at its first annual EV Day in Korea, including the EV3 and EV4 concept cars and one production vehicle, the EV5.

All three are expected to be "smaller EVs," Kia says, with prices ranging from $35,000-$50,000. It's part of a new strategy to make "EVs for all" and accelerate the shift to all-electric driving (we've heard that before).

“The EV market is expanding from one catering to the smaller early adopter group to a broader mass majority of customers," says Spencer Cho, head of the global business planning sub-division at Kia. "Our competitive, growing EV lineup will accelerate the popularization of electric vehicles and provide consumers with more options from which to choose."

Kia didn't reveal launch dates for the vehicles, but hinted they will debut abroad before the US. "In emerging markets with slower EV adoption rates," the company will focus on the existing EV6 and previously announced 2024 EV9, "with subsequent releases of strategic models including the EV5, EV4, and EV3."

The US would likely qualify as an emerging market in this context, as just 7% of new car sales are from EVs compared with 21% in Europe and 25% in China.

Whenever the EV5 does hit the states, we can expect it to be a "compact SUV designed to meet the needs of millennial families." It may compete with the Volvo EX30 and newly discounted Tesla Model Y.

Kia did not confirm the EV5's price, or specify how it will compare to its existing budget model in this category, the Niro EV (starting at $39,600). However, we do know it will not qualify for the $7,500 federal tax credit, as Kia will produce it in China and Korea.

The EV5 will run on Kia's E-GMP battery platform, with between 330 and 447 miles of range for