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Kia is set to make it's first global van with the reveal of the Kia PV5.
The new medium-sized van will be electric only, and is expected in the UK during 2026.
Here's what we know so far about the new Kia PV5 van.
In January 2024, Kia revealed its ambitious plans to launch a range of electric vans.
The display at CES in Las Vegas showed four new sizes of vans with with multiple body types.
A compact concept for a tiny autonomous city van was joined by a much larger courier type van, however, the Kia van range will start with the PV5, a medium-sized van.
To build the new models a new production facility is under construction in Korea.
The PV5 will be built there to produce the vehicle with the ultimate aim of up to 150,000 units by the time the PV5 goes on general sale in 2026.
The new manufacturing site has been designed solely to produce PBVs (platform beyond vehicles) and will use a bespoke and more flexible manufacturing process that will eventually see production reach up to 300,000 units.
The Kia PV5 will have a target launch price of โฌ30,000 - an ambitious price for an electric van from a new entrant to the market.
That will place it significantly below the market rates for medium electric vans like the Ford E-Transit Custom.
Also in the model line-up is a large van called the Kia PV7, which will possibly be followed by a smaller fully autonomous driverless model called PV1.
The second phase of Kia vans will apparently be launched between 2027 and 2032 where the they will have level 4 autonomous capabilities. Kia also says they will have AI-based mobility functions.
The largest van will be the Kia PV9, added to the range to meet changing European market needs for higher gross vehicle weight vans.
The ambitious range of new Kia vans is also planned to continue to evolve beyond 2032 with more conceptual ideas around big data and connected cities.
As well as the Kia PV5, another city van model is scheduled which is set to be called Kia PV3.
There's no specific timeline but its arrival will depend on how the other models in the range are received.
Measuring up to 4.7m long, the PV5 will be launched in standard and high roof panel vans.
There will also be a six-seat people mover and an autonomous taxi, which has been developed through a collaboration with Uber.
The 4.7m length makes it slightly smaller than a Ford Transit Custom. The PV5's height also appears to be very similar which should give it a load volume of around 6m3 for the standard van.
It's perhaps more of a natural rival to the Volkswagen ID Buzz Cargo.
For a full breakdown of the Kia PV5 dimensions and Kia PV5 van weights read our guides
Thereโs no word yet on what any of the technical specification of the Kia PV5 will be.
The motors and batteries in the PV5 range will be built on an adapted version of the E-GMP platform which is currently used by the Kia EV6 and Kia EV9 electric passenger cars.
However, the PV5 range will use a 400V electrical system, rather than 800V, which should make it more competitive on price.
Kia also plans to introduce body swapping technology by 2027.
Kia confirmed that the PV7, scheduled for release in 2027.
It will be available in front-wheel-drive and with an all-wheel-drive model.
The Kia PV9 is due to come to market in 2029.
Further details of PV1 and PV3 are not yet available as neither has a planned on-sale date yet.
The latter stages of the van range, however, aren't scheduled until early 2030.
The teaser images showed a front and rear quarter version of the people mover vehicle.
Large glass areas, and futuristic design elements, like the LED headlights, characterise the design.
The exterior images and the real version of Kia PV5 van were revealed in February when official pictures were released.
Both the Kia PV5 Cargo and the PV5 Passenger get a shared design but there differences including the twin side-opening doors for the Cargo version.
Both models get slightly reccessed looking, chunky door handles and there's squared off plastic trim around the wheel arches and additional trim running the length of the van.
Kia took the covers off the finished version of the PV5 at its Kia EV Day 2025 where we got a first look at the finished van.
The finalised production ready model of the van stays true to the concept van with its futuristuc front end and bold LED headlights.
On the inside there is a 7-inch instrument cluster and a 12.9-inch navigation screen in the centre. The PV5 uses an Android Automotive OS-based infotainment system and will get over the air updates.
Three body sizes will be available at launch later this year with L1H1, L2H1 and L2H2 models all featuring in the line-up.
There's a choice of three battery packs with either a 43.3kWh, 51.5kWh or 71.2kWh battery, the largest of which should give the PV5 a range of 249 miles (400km).
Power comes from a front-wheel-drive electric motor, producing 120kW and 250Nm of torque.
Load volumes range from 3.4m3 to 5.1m3 and the PV5 will have a payload capacity of up to 770kg.
Kia has already confirmed that the van will get a 7-year or 100,000 mile warranty as standard, the same as Kia's passenger car range.
Prices will start from โฌ30,000 excluding VAT for the PV5 Cargo, however, that is for the entry-level battery size which the UK market is unlikely to have. We can therefore expect prices to start closer to ยฃ35,000 for the larger 51.5kWh battery model once it has landed in the UK.
