A leaked internal document suggests Kia is preparing another electric SUV, provisionally called the EV7, to fill the gap between the EV5, EV6, and flagship EV9.
The Korean manufacturer’s rapidly expanding electric lineup is already paying off in Europe, with battery-electric registrations soaring by 58% this year. But is there enough room for yet another electric Kia?
According to The Korean Car Blog, an internal document from Kia’s Employment Stability Committee outlines plans to produce a new midsize electric SUV called the EV7 at the company’s Gwangju factory in South Korea. The document also mentions new generations of the Sorento and Carnival, including a hydrogen-powered Carnival planned for 2029.
Kia has not officially confirmed the EV7, nor disclosed a launch date or specifications. Nevertheless, the leak aligns with its broader strategy to expand its global electric portfolio to 14 models by 2030.
Between EV5 and EV9
The EV7 would logically slot above the 4.62-meter EV5 and below the considerably larger, seven-seat EV9. A length of around 4.8 meters, comparable to the Sorento, seems plausible and could offer five or seven seats.
Battery capacities of 80–100 kWh and a WLTP range of approximately 500–600 km would be reasonable expectations, although none of these figures has been confirmed.
Another question is whether Kia will use the 800V architecture of the EV6 and EV9, allowing considerably faster charging than the EV5’s 400V system. Kia is also developing a next-generation EV platform with improved battery energy density and efficiency, but there is no indication yet that the EV7 will benefit from it.
Pricing presents an even greater challenge. In Belgium, the EV5 starts at around €46,000, the EV6 at €50,000, and the EV9 at €62,590. That leaves relatively little room for an EV7, which could plausibly start around €55,000–€60,000.
Electric sales accelerating across Europe
The expansion comes as Kia enjoys remarkable success in Europe. According to ACEA-based figures published by the manufacturer, Kia registered 377,078 passenger cars across the EU, EFTA, and UK during the first eight months of 2026, an increase of 9%.
More importantly, battery-electric registrations jumped 58%, giving Kia approximately 4.8% of the European BEV market and seventh place among electric car brands.
The growth extends across major markets, including Germany (+112%), France (+120%), and the UK (+66%). Kia’s third-quarter results also show global EV sales increasing by 75.4% to nearly 123,000 vehicles.
The success reflects an unusually broad portfolio. From the affordable EV2 through the EV3, EV4, and EV5 to the EV6 and EV9, Kia now covers almost every mainstream electric passenger-car segment. Its PV5 adds an electric passenger and commercial van.
Dutch success reveals a potential downside
The Netherlands illustrates both the strength and potential risks of this offensive. Kia topped the Dutch passenger-car market in October with 3,087 registrations, ahead of Volkswagen.
The new EV2 accounted for 621 registrations, making it the country’s third-most-popular car overall and second-most-popular electric model behind the Škoda Elroq. The EV3 added 505 registrations and the EV5 another 448.
However, the EV3’s year-to-date registrations fell by 41.1% compared with 2025, despite Kia’s broader electric success. The arrival of the cheaper EV2 and larger EV5 may be drawing customers away from the established compact SUV, although competition and market conditions also play a role.
Belgium: Kia grows 34% despite shrinking market
Belgium also shows encouraging results for Kia. In October, the Korean brand registered 1,356 new cars, an increase of 34.3% year on year, climbing to sixth place in the national ranking. The overall Belgian market contracted by 5.9% during the same month.
The affordable EV2 is also making inroads among private buyers. In September, 71 privately registered EV2s placed it fifth among Belgium’s most popular electric models for private customers, ahead of the Renault 5 (60) and Škoda Elroq (45).
However, the Belgian electric transition remains heavily dependent on company cars. During the first nine months of 2026, BEVs accounted for 60.9% of professional registrations, compared with just 11.5% among private buyers. September did bring a breakthrough, with the private BEV share reaching a record 20.2%.
The contrast with the Netherlands is striking. In October, electric cars accounted for 55.2% of all new registrations in the Netherlands, compared with 48.5% in Belgium. For Kia, the EV2’s 621 Dutch registrations that month underline the growing importance of affordable electric models.
How many electric SUVs are too many?
An EV7 would strengthen Kia’s offering for families seeking more space than the EV5 provides, without entering the expensive EV9 territory. It could also compete with larger electric SUVs from Volkswagen, Škoda, Hyundai, and emerging Chinese brands.
Yet the growing overlap between Kia’s own models raises questions about profitability and internal competition. The EV7 will need more than a different badge and slightly larger dimensions to justify its place.
For now, the leaked production plans suggest Kia has no intention of slowing its electric offensive. The real test will be whether expanding the range continues to attract new customers or increasingly redistributes buyers among Kia’s own electric models.
