Kia's upcoming new vans has won its first international award, claiming the Red Dot Award: Design Concept 2025 accolade.
The PV5 WKNDR Concept is a rugged go-anywhere concept version based on the Kia PV5 Cargo, earning Red Dot's highest distinction with the prestigious ‘Best of the Best’ award.
Kia also scooped a host of other gongs for its van range with category wins for PV1, PV5 and PV7 concept electric vans. There was also an award for the EV2 passenger car concept.
“Winning five Red Dot Design Concept awards, including the Best of the Best, is a proud moment for everyone at Kia,” said Karim Habib, Executive Vice President and Head of Kia Global Design.
"Being recognised by one of the world’s leading design competitions is a wonderful achievement and reflects the thoughtful innovation and dedication that we invest into every model we design. We will endeavour to build on this momentum as we shape the future of sustainable and accessible mobility.”
The Kia PV5 WKNDR Concept is one of several concept vehicles that Kia has shown in the run up to the launch of its Platform Beyond Vehicle (PBV) range.
The electric adventure van was first unveiled at 2024 SEMA Showcase, before re-emerging at Milan Design Week.
It gets a host of off-road enhancements as well as an innovative external storage system, which can be configured as a mobile kitchen. Other ideas include self-sufficient energy, generated via integrated solar panels and a hydro turbine.
Deliveries of the Kia PV5 will begin in the UK later this year, with order books now open for the small electric van.
The PV5 will be followed by the Kia PV7, a medium electric van, set to rival the Ford Transit Custom. The PV1 was an autonomous concept vehicle launched at the reveal of the PBV range in January 2024, however, there are currently no plans for it to make production. Instead, the Kia van range will get a large Kia PV9 van, set to arrive by 2029.
