You'll soon be able to lease a Kia van in the UK - after the Korean manufacturer unveiled a series of electric light commercial vehicles at the Consumer Electronics Show, CES, in Las Vegas.
Up until now, car maker Kia has never entered the UK van market.
But that's all about to change, with the debut vehicles arriving in 2025. The first to be offered-up will be the 'PV5' - an electric, medium-sized rival to the Ford E-Transit Custom.
The PV5 uses Kia's ingenious new 'Platform Beyond Vehicle', or 'PBV' chassis. The PBV concept extends beyond the van, promising a ‘total mobility solution’ and extending to lifestyle opportunities and new business by, Kia says, redefining the concept of space thanks to advanced, tailored interiors that provide ultimate freedom and flexibility.
The design language of every PBV-based van will be broadly similar and reflect the robust, solid nature required by commercial vehicles. The simple design is clean and sleek, with each feature serving a purpose rather than adding nothing but an aesthetic touch.
Underpinning each van is a modular chassis with a fixed cab, onto which various interchangeable upper bodies can be connected using electromagnetic and mechanical means. This means that the vehicle can be multi-purpose; by day, it could be a panel van with the appropriate body attached, but by night, a multi-seater taxi, or vice-versa. It can even be used as a camper van at weekends, as long as you have somewhere to stash multiple body shells while they aren’t in use.
Using high-strength tubular steel and engineered polymers to create the body structures will make the vans tough and rigid, using 55% fewer parts than a standard body shell. Shipped in a handy kit form, vans can be easily transformed in-field, too.
Once the body shell is constructed and fitted, the user will benefit from large doors with pillarless openings, so entry and exit are entirely unhindered. There are countless possibilities for cargo and passenger-carrying options using the extended and flat platform, which was made possible thanks to the battery pack placement. Stashing them under the vehicle's floor means that space on the platform is maximised and versatile for different configurations.
The driver also has plenty of working space, with a desk-like surface formed on the dashboard and a steering wheel that folds out of the way and doubles as a desk lamp, giving the cabin an office feel.
Kia has made good use of sustainable materials throughout, aligning with the company’s sustainability goals. Bioplastics, post-consumer material plastic, bio paint, recycled PET fabric, felt and yarns, and bio-PU foam all add to the aesthetics of the vehicles, adding plenty of visual appeal.
As part of the unveiling at CES, Kia is highlighting the in-vehicle infotainment system.
It says the system will recognise the van users’ requirements in real-time and provide immediate contextual information. It promises a custom PBV app marketplace, through which both Kia-produced and third-party apps will be available, although users may be reluctant to migrate from the Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connections that they already use and are familiar with.
“Kia PBVs will initiate a new era of seamless everyday business and lifestyle solutions,” explains executive vice president and head of Kia Global Design, Karim Habib. “We hope to make our customers’ lives easier and better, whether they’re stationary or on the move, offering exceptional flexibility and customisation through radical modularisation. Untethered to any fixed place, and unbounded by the traditional restrictions of space, Kia PBVs offer users a blank canvas to reimagine their lifestyles and workstyles.”
The Kia Vans Coming to the UK
Kia isn’t expecting to launch everything immediately, instead it'll ease itself into the LCV market gradually. Initially, the UK will see the PV5 electric van, available as a traditional panel van, with a high roof and chassis cab version also available.
Following the PV5 will be two more models at very different ends of the market.
The PB7 will be a similar size to a Ford Transit, and will be the largest vehicle in the line-up. It will have increased interior space, as well as a greater driving range and more functionality.
At the other end of the spectrum will sit the PV1 - a much smaller offering, which will be suitable for last-mile deliveries and short-distance logistics transportation.
No matter the size, every model in the range will have an integrated rail system on the floor, side panels and ceiling, giving customers the freedom to adapt the vehicle to their specific needs and requirements.
A fleet using Kia PBVs would benefit from being able to transfer goods quickly between vehicles using the rail system, sliding cabinets and frames from one door to the next. Load areas can also be fitted out to the buyer's specifications, with ‘tiles’ consisting of anything from speakers to shelves.
There are gaps in the model numbering system — PV3 is notably absent — which could be filled too, with the potential for a mid-sized, Citroen Berlingo-esque option, although Kia has currently given no firm indication that this is on the cards.
Ambitious Future
While all of this is achievable, Kia gets a little fanciful when discussing the future. There’s talk of introducing a software-based PV5 Robotaxi model, which would provide an autonomous passenger taxi service. Then, the Korean marque introduced multimodal services and mobility hub businesses that utilise advanced air mobility, aka flying cars. There is also the mention of Boston Dynamics’ robot dogs enhancing ‘logistics automation and round-the-clock quality control’ at Kia factories.
We’re not sure about the timeframe for these more imaginative plans…
Fleet Solutions
Kia will introduce a customer participation-based development process in plans that feel more realistic in the shorter term. With cooperation between the customer and the brand, this dedicated project will create more tailored solutions for the end users.
Following on from the success seen with the launch of the Ford Pro Live service, Kia is seeking to reduce downtime for customers by combining the software-based data and AI technologies of the PBV, and introduce an integrated Fleet Management System and charging programme to enable predictive and proactive maintenance of vehicles.
The charging solution element will mean that schedules can be optimised for maximum efficiency by considering battery charge levels, routes and breaks, all tailored to the customer’s operating environment.
Fleet managers can easily oversee multiple vehicles using unified software across the system. Features such as temperature control, inventory monitoring and intelligent route planning can be managed using real-time data and AI integration.
“The Kia PBV business is the pinnacle of our customer-centric business approach. With the aim of developing PBVs and solutions tailored to their business environments, we are confident that these strong partnerships will be a driving force on the road to becoming a sustainable mobility solutions provider,” said Vice President and BDM Director of Kia PBV Business Division, Pierre-Martin Bos.
When will we see all of this?
It will be a while before the PBV range arrives in the UK, with the South Korean factory not expecting to reach production until 2025. Once it does, it will have the capacity to produce up to 150,000 units per year.
The Kia PV5 van will be the first to roll off the production line and onto UK soil, and it’s expected to arrive in the first half of 2025.
Pricing details are yet to be released by Kia, along with reliable technical data, including battery size and expected range, but looking at the current market, we’d anticipate a price tag in the region of £40,000 plus VAT.
Enjoyed this? Read our latest news
- Ford’s compact vans: Everything you need to know
- Toyota's EPU concept hints at production-ready mini-Hilux
- Downsizing your van? Here's everything you need to know
- Toyota tests electric Hilux pickup
Where To Next?
For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to our newsletter.
Looking for a great leasing deal? Check out our incredible range of special offers.
Read our latest reviews and find the right model for you.
Want to know more about leasing? Take a look at our comprehensive leasing guides.
Interested in everything motoring? Why not catch up on all the latest car leasing news.
