Kia’s Platform Beyond Vehicles (PBV) are coming closer to fruition. From next year, the Korean manufacturer will launch its mid-size electric PV5 van on the European market, which targets a range of around 400 km and which will be available in both passenger and cargo versions. Eventually, a full range of 5 PBVs will be available.

After showing concept versions of its Platform Beyond Vehicles at CES 2024 in Las Vegas, Kia has now shared a few more details of its first commercial vehicle for Europe: the PV5. This mid-sized van, with a length of 4,645 mm, will enter production in August 2025, as soon as the factory in Hwaseong, South Korea, is finished.

Dedicated platform

The factory will have a total production capacity of 150,000 vehicles per year, but this figure will not be met from the beginning. Europe, which will be Kia’s primary market for its PBV line-up, currently has a 6.2 percent market share for electric LCVs, with 31,402 units sold (Q1 2024, according to ACEA).

Kia’s main advantage over its European e-LCV competitors will be that the PV5 is based on a fully-electric platform, compared to the mixed-energy platforms of vehicles like the Ford E-Transit Custom and the Stellantis e-vans. This means more energy efficiency and more flexible packaging.

The PV5 will be available in Basic (passenger van), Van (cargo version), High Roof and Chassis Cab versions, with a targeted range of 400 km thanks to an NMC battery of an as yet unknown capacity. A cheaper LFP battery is also being considered, with the cost of a slightly lower energy density and therefore more weight and less payload.

Larger and smaller PBVs coming later

The PV5 will form the foundation of Kia’s assault on the LCV market. Should it prove successful, a larger PV7 is on the cards for 2027, offering even more flexibility and customisation options (box van, refrigerated cargo space, etc.) straight from the factory, rather than relying on external body converters.

A smaller PV3 van for last-mile delivery solutions is also being considered, but has not yet been approved. The tiny PV1, also shown in concept form at CES Las Vegas in January 2024, could become a rival to the Citroën Ami Cargo and its Stellantis brothers, but a planned release date is not yet known.