Kia unveiled three new small and mid-size electric models at its annual brand day in South Korea, reinforcing its ambitious global strategy to lead and accelerate the electric vehicle revolution.
At this event, Kia presented its vision for electric mobility for all and its strategy to significantly and rapidly expand the range of electric vehicle models.
The automaker unveiled its upcoming electric car, the EV5, and unveiled two new concepts aimed at facilitating access to the technology.
Kia says it will offer a range of electric cars, including the EV6 and EV9, which promise Level 3 autonomous driving and a range of up to 540 kilometres. The company hopes to sell the EV5 for $35,000 to $50,000 to accelerate widespread adoption of electric vehicles.
The EV5 is the third electric car in the series. Kia is based on the E-GMP electric vehicle platform and currently plans production and sales in China and South Korea.
Its specifications vary depending on the market, as China offers standard models, long-range models, and long-range models with four-wheel drive.
The standard model in China is equipped with a 64 kWh battery, 160 kWh motor, and has an estimated range of 530 km.
The long-range version is equipped with a large 88 kWh battery and a 160 kWh motor, achieving a range of up to 720 kilometers on a single charge.
The long-range all-wheel drive model has a range of 650 kilometers and is equipped with two motors with a total output of 230 kWh (160 kWh front-wheel motor and 70 kWh rear-wheel motor). It supports fast charging and the battery can be charged within 27 minutes. Loading from 30% to 80%.
As for the Korean models, it is clear that their characteristics are designed to meet the needs of the market, as the standard model is equipped with a 58 kWh battery and a 160 kWh front electric motor.
Long Range models feature an 81 kWh battery and the same 160 kWh front electric motor, while Long Range 4WD models benefit from an additional 70 kWh rear electric motor, for a total output of 225 kWh.
“We plan to launch an EV5 GT model with high-performance features at a later date,” Kia said. The company designed the EV5 battery to operate efficiently in all four seasons, even in extremely hot and cold weather, and integrated an advanced heat pump system to manage the battery temperature, ensuring consistent performance regardless of external conditions.
Although the EV5 is the product that will be sold for the first time in the Chinese market later this year, the other electric cars that Kia revealed at the event are currently still just prototypes.
It is worth noting that Kia launched the EV6 electric car in 2021 and expanded its offerings in 2023 by launching the EV9 electric car in March.