Kia PV5 is the centrepiece of a brand new line-up of electrical business autos
Manufacturing model of recent PV5 will make its UK debut on 29 April on the CV Present
Kia will launch its electrical van enterprise within the UK on 29 April when the manufacturing model of the PV5 makes its nationwide debut on the Industrial Automobile Present.
The PV5 was first proven in idea kind on the CES electronics present in Las Vegas final yr and prototypes have lately been noticed testing in Europe forward of an imminent reveal.
It’s the first in a spread of vans deliberate by the Korean producer, with the idea having been unveiled alongside a smaller PV1 and PV3, in addition to the Mercedes Sprinter-sized PV7.
Kia mentioned the PV5 might be provided with a seven-year, 100,000-mile guarantee as commonplace, and connectivity with the Geotab fleet administration platform might be provided too.
Paul Philpott, president and CEO of Kia UK, instructed Autocar earlier this month that deliveries of the PV5 will start “throughout This autumn” – so between October and December – and that launching vans is an “necessary extension of our model”.
He added: “[It’s] a fairly important market. One other 350,000 vans go on sale yearly and there is a piece of that pie that we have had nothing of, that we are able to add to our automotive enterprise.”
All the things you have to learn about Kia’s new vans
Kia will enter the world of business autos in 2025 with an electrical van referred to as the PV5.
The Kia PV5, revealed at CES in Las Vegas, is the primary of a future line-up of what Kia calls PBVs, which stands for Platform Past Automobile.
Kia has proven off a number of idea variations of those PBVs at CES alongside the PV5, together with the smaller PV1 and PV3 and bigger PV7, in addition to totally different variations of the PV5 itself, as a part of plans to ramp up its providing of multi-purpose vehicles within the coming decade.
The PV5 might be launched first, in 2025, and is the primary mannequin to return from a brand new manufacturing facility in Korea – with an preliminary capability of 150,000 models per yr – designed solely to provide PBVs utilizing a bespoke and extra versatile manufacturing course of.
The PV5 is 4.7 metres lengthy and has a punchy goal worth of €35,000 (£30,600) for an entry-level mannequin, though what dimension battery it’s going to have and the indicated vary have but to be disclosed. An extended-wheelbase model is feasible.
It will likely be constructed on a specifically adpated model of the E-GMP platform used on the likes of the Kia EV6 and new Kia EV9 electric cars.
In contrast to these EVs, the PV5 is natively front-wheel drive and has a 400V electrical structure fairly than an 800V one.
Two variations of the PV5 confirmed to be provided at launch are the seven-seat Folks Mover – a rival to the new electric Ford Tourneo Custom – and the Excessive Roof panel van, which maximises cargo house.
Kia is focusing on small and medium companies, together with utility corporations, with this van initially. The pair of PV5s is about to achieve the UK in 2025.
The Folks Mover will enchantment to taxi corporations. Kia has confirmed that it is in talks with Uber a couple of provide deal and indicated that the ride-hailing big was influencing parts of the PV5’s design and configuration.
There are additionally plans for an autonomous Robotaxi model of the PB5, which has been previewed at CES because the PV5-R.
A manufacturing date of 2028 is mooted for this mannequin, which may have level-four autonomous capabilities. As such, its introduction might be restricted by laws.
The ultimate model of the PV5 is a pick-up truck, though Kia admits that is extra to point out the configurability of the platform fairly than a mannequin with manufacturing intent.
The corporate does have plans for a combustion-engined pick-up in some world markets, however that is separate from this undertaking.
The one mounted factor of the inside of all of the PV5 fashions is the “driver zone” cabin, with the remainder customisable by way of the usage of numerous interchangeable modules.
For instance, the world historically used for a passenger seat can function a safe space for holding baggage, whereas a wide range of seat sorts will be positioned in plenty of layouts.
The launch of the PV5 is what Kia calls section considered one of a three-phase undertaking regarding PBVs. The second section will embody the launch of the manufacturing PV7, which has been previewed as a CES idea additionally.
The PV7 might be provided in lengths starting from 5 to five.7 metres and can go into manufacturing in 2027. This may also be natively front-wheel-drive however will supply four-wheel drive as an possibility and be outfitted with the 800V electrical structure for sooner charging.
Part two may also embody the roll-out of recent software program for the PBVs that may use manmade intelligence to make sure that they’re at all times updated.
Part three is extra conceptual and never deliberate till no less than 2032, however it envisions a complete community of different-sized PBVs in a position to work together with each other throughout a number of makes use of and enterprise wants.
The opposite two PBVs previewed, the PV1 and PV3, aren’t but deliberate for manufacturing.
Kia admits the PV3 is just too just like the PV5 for now however will invite companies to recommend use circumstances for it, which can but end in it being made.
The PV1 is a small, autonomous-only mannequin that’s supposed for carrying small masses in tight city areas.
As indicated by the mannequin names, Kia can also be open to additional PBV fashions to take a seat between the preliminary ideas sooner or later.
All of the fashions have what’s referred to as a “dynamic hybrid” modular physique on high of their skateboard EV platform. This combines tubular metal and engineered polymers to scale back the quantity of elements wanted by 55%, Kia claims, with no discount in rigidity.
Numerous recycled supplies are used within the building of the PBVs, too.
Kia can also be creating a spread of fleet-management choices, together with over-the-air software program updates, to assist corporations operating a lot of PBVs.
It is also creating a PBV Ecosystem, primarily based round an built-in rail system on the ceiling, flooring and aspect of the machines, that may enable gadgets equivalent to frames, cupboards and seats to be switched between totally different PBVs.
Past the autos, Kia is additional planning to combine robotics and autonomous driving know-how into the PBV ecosystem, in order that the autos are prepared to be used in future ‘sensible metropolis’ environments. This might be in section three.
Kia’s van could possibly be the cleverest round – however is there a market?
George Barrow
It’s onerous not to take a look at the PV5 line-up with a wholesome dose of scepticism however the necessities of the business car business are very totally different from these within the passenger automotive world. Superior telematics, AI options, and even sustainable supplies within the cabin merely aren’t on the agenda in your common Joe whose van is simply one other instrument of their commerce.
In its present guise, the PV5 van is more likely to sit roughly within the dimension and payload area of the Ford Transit Customized, essentially the most profitable van of the previous decade. I’ve my doubts that an electric-only LCV will be capable of acquire traction in such a aggressive market. The scale appears irregular in a market the place double-pallet loadspaces are necessary and lots of fleets battle to successfully implement fundamental telematics in an efficient means, not to mention make use of future plans for autonomous autos and peer-to-peer payloads.
The Volkswagen ID Buzz Cargo has already begun to vary the best way consumers take a look at EV-only vans, however a brand new identify with no business car pedigree and no devoted business car gross sales and back-up makes the PV5 idea appear extra like LCV (or PBV) fiction, than truth.
Kia doesn’t simply must invent a mannequin, but in addition a marketplace for what’s at present a extremely superior digital proposition in a reasonably analogue world.
George Barrow is an Worldwide Van of the Yr juror