Kia outlines product plans, heavy on EVs and hybrids

Kia plans to develop not solely its electrical automobile (EV) lineup but in addition its vary of hybrids, and has introduced some key launch timings.

In its CEO Investor Day on April 5 it reiterated its objectives, introduced final yr, to have 15 EVs in whole – together with two purpose-built automobiles (PBVs) – on sale by 2027, with annual EV gross sales of 1.6 million items by 2030.

It goals to launch a minimum of one new EV yearly between now and 2027. The primary of those would be the EV3 electrical crossover, due within the third quarter of 2024. This was previewed in idea type final yr.

Will probably be joined later by the Europe-focused EV2 and the bigger EV4. Kia additionally plans to roll out two region-specific EVs over the following few years, with one being a Carens EV for India.

Kia plans to supply its EVs with extra energy-dense, long-range nickel cobalt manganese (NCM) batteries, in addition to lithium iron phosphate (LFP) packs.

Along with constructing out its EV lineup, it plans to strengthen its hybrid vary from six fashions in 2024 to eight in 2026 and 9 in 2028, with next-generation hybrid powertrains to supply improved efficiency, torque and gas effectivity.

By increasing its hybrid lineup, it says it could possibly assist handle fluctuation in EV demand.

It says that whereas long-term EV demand for 2030 is predicted to stay unchanged, the tempo of development might show uneven within the close to time period as a result of components like weaker international financial development and discount in EV subsidies.

Throughout 2024, Kia plans to launch two new fashions and three facelifted fashions.

The EV3 will launch within the third quarter together with the petrol-powered K4, whereas a facelifted EV6 is due within the second quarter, a facelifted K8 within the third quarter, and a facelifted Sportage within the fourth quarter.

The facelifted EV6 GT might be launched within the fourth quarter of 2024.

Kia has additionally confirmed it’ll launch its PV5 PBV in 2025, adopted by the PV7 in 2027. It’s aiming to promote 150,000 and 100,000 items of every respectively by 2030.

In 2030, Kia plans to promote 4.3 million automobiles, together with 1.6 million EVs. That represents important development over its 2024 aim of three.2 million items.

It has elevated its 2030 gross sales projections of electrified automobiles, inclusive of hybrids, plug-in hybrids and EVs, from 55 per cent to 58 per cent.

It has acknowledged the specter of Chinese language manufacturers, and says it is going to sort out them by making its merchandise extra aggressive, getting into new PBV markets, and establishing a worldwide service and components operation system with 6200 places and 34,000 technicians.

Kia is specializing in tech, rolling out its linked providers throughout an extra 74 international locations by 2026 and increasing the variety of fashions with over-the-air updates to 18.

It’s additionally planning to construct 250,000 automobiles yearly in China in 2027 to serve not solely that market but in addition rising markets – in addition to Australia, which is able to obtain the Chinese language-built EV5 this yr.