Kia’s Aussie electric van plan firms

A range of modular electric vans could be in Kia dealerships in Australia starting as soon as 2026.

Teased in 2023 and released at the CES tech-fest in Las Vegas earlier this month, the Platform Beyond Vehicle (PBV) has so far been shown as the large PV7, mid-size PV5 and the small PV1 concepts.

It’s the PV7 and PV5 that are on the radar for Australia, while the PV1 has been dismissed as being too small.

In Vegas the PV7 was presented as a high-roof van, while the PV5 debuted Kia’s ‘Easy Swap’ technology that allowed the cab-chassis to be adapted into a van, a ute or even a people-mover. A robotaxi is also planned.

The PV5 will be the first model to enter production in 2025 at a brand-new plant in Korea. The PV7 is expected to follow in 2027.

“It’s incredible what they can do,” enthused Kia Australia CEO Damien Meredith about the PBVs.

“It’s going to give us and our dealer network a really strong opportunity to move into areas that I hadn’t even envisaged.”

One potential hurdle for the PBV range to make it to Australia has already been overcome with the confirmation it will be built in right-hand drive for the UK.

Kia Australia product planning general manager Roland Rivero clarified PBV was not yet signed off for Australia, but the chances of it coming were high.

“We have got interest in it and we have got our hand up for it and we are hoping there is a green light and a positive confirmation from HQ in regard to PBVs,” he said.

The PBVs will be the second new commercial market area Kia Australia expands into in the mid-2020s. The diesel Tasman ute launches in mid-2025 and Rivero suggested the PV5 and PV7 could follow soon after.

“It could possibly be that 2025 and 2026 Kia Australia will have utes and vans,” he said.

“Having the ute is already a commercial element we are going to push our dealer network into and if you’re already in LCV territory… you can bolster that light commercial component also with the likes of PV5 or PV7.”

The PV5 and PV7 will join an electric light commercial segment currently populated in Australia by the likes of the Ford e-Transit, LDV e-Deliver 9 and MIFA 9 people-mover, Mercedes-Benz eVito and EQV and Peugeot e-Partner.

While there has been some speculation the PBV would form the basis of the Tasman battery-electric ute due as soon as 2026, carsales expects that vehicle will be based on a ladder frame adapted from the diesel version.

A third Kia electric ute about the size of US full-size pick-ups such as the Ford F-150 is also confirmed to be under development on a dedicated EV platform.

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