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KIA Electric Vehicles

Kia’s masterplan is to plow straight on towards the future & introduce 26 hybrids, plug-in hybrids, and fully EV by 2020. Under the plan, Kia will invest $25 billion by the end of 2025, with global aims to introduce 11 new Kia EVs by 2025 and sell 500,000 electric vehicles annually by that year. With that, Kia would have a projected 6.6% of the world’s electric vehicle sales. And in the years between now and then it plans to add plug-in hybrid models and mobility ventures. What was sorely missing at that time of Plan S rollout was guidance on what specifically it meant for the U.S. Now Kia Motors America has released some of that info from quarantine—in the form of a brief scripted conversation for the press (and, perhaps, the most curious fans of the brand) between product and technology PR manager Neil Dunlop and long range product strategy manager Steve Kosowski. While there’s plenty the two can’t yet detail, they highlight what it means for the next couple years. Especially of note, it’s bringing two new models that hadn’t before been confirmed for the U.S. Kia HabaNiro concept The first is a dedicated PHEV—which we take to mean that it’s not offered in any non-plug-in form—coming to the U.S. at the end of this year.  The second is Kia’s first dedicated EV, set to arrive at the end of 2021 for the U.S., although it might show up before then for other markets, such as Europe. Kosowski said that the EV will have “a crossover design that really blurs the boundaries between passenger cars, CUVs, crossovers...it’s a little bit car, it’s a little bit crossover.” It also will have about a 300 mile range, with sub-20-minute recharge times. That EV due late next year will be designed and engineered on a much-anticipated E-GMP dedicated EV platform shared with Hyundai. Under development since 2017 or earlier, it should allow a big improvement to design and proportions, and potentially interior space, by nixing the need to plan for an internal combustion engine, and is likely to have an 800-volt basis. Imagine by Kia concept This all corresponds with reports of a “halo” model positioned above the current Niro EV and Soul EV (still delayed for its U.S. arrival), based on the 2019 Imagine by Kia concept car. It’s the same platform that’s expected to underpin the intriguing Hyundai 45 concept.  The Kia U.S. representatives noted that Kia will have a whole portfolio of electric vehicles by 2025—including passenger cars, SUVs, MPVs, sedans, and crossovers. So if you’re a little frustrated by the limited Niro EV availability, wait just a little longer and keep the brand in your sights.

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Future KIA Electric vehicles

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Week 3 2020 Hyundai & KIA invest in British start-up to develop commercial EVs

Hyundai Motor Company and Kia Motors Corporation furthered its clean mobility strategy through strategic investment of €100 million in a new partnership with the British autonomous EV startup, Arrival.


KIA and Hyundai expect to enter the market for small and medium-sized commercial EVs to supply logistics, ride-hailing, and shuttle service companies by using Arrival's modular electric platform. The strategic investment is in the form of a partnership where Hyundai contributes 80% and KIA 20% of the total investment.


Albert Biermann, President and Head of Research and Development Division for Hyundai Motor Group, said: “Through the joint development of electric commercial vehicles with Arrival, we will be able to gain a competitive advantage and progressively establish our leadership in the global eco-friendly vehicle market, with Europe at the forefront.”


Arrival’s CEO and founder, the Russian entrepreneur Denis Sverdlov added: “Arrival has created a game changing product category - Generation 2.0 electric vehicles. Hyundai and Kia have been making amazing vehicles with uncompromising quality and share our vision for an electric mobility future. Our Strategic Partnership with Hyundai and Kia means we will scale Generation 2 electric vehicles globally and importantly - in the very near future.”

Week 24 2018 Kia unveil KIA Niro CUV EV

KIA unveiled the Niro pure electric EV at the 2018 Busan International Motor Show in Korea this week. The KIA Niro CUV EV and sister company Hyundai with the Hyundai Kona EV currently has the only pure electric CUVs in the (Western) market. The Niro EV differentiates itself from the existing Niro Hybrid and Niro Plug-in Hybrid with a series of exclusive design features including redesigned intakes; new arrowhead shaped LED daytime running lights and “tiger nose.”

The inside of the Niro EV includes technologies that complement its zero-emissions powertrain and modern features. Different than the PHEV and Hybrid Niro, the BEV version’s dashboard features a light blue trim, and the center console has been simplified to accommodate the car’s shift-by-wire drive selector in the form of a ‘dial’-style shift knob, a first for KIA. The Niro EV features a new mood lighting system. Occupants can choose from six colors – white, grey, bronze, red, green, and blue. The 7.0-inch touchscreen HMI (human-machine interface) remains at the center of the dashboard but has been updated to offer a series of EV-specific features. Most importantly the range of the short and long-range versions is slightly more than indicated in the digital launch in March, with the long-range version reaching 400km (250miles) and the short-range model 300km / 186 miles. For more specs and some other surprises related to the Niro EV click here.

Week 1 2018 Kia to unveil new EV concept at CES 2018eil KIA Niro CUV EV

KIA unveiled the Niro pure electric EV at the 2018 Busan International Motor Show in Korea this week. The KIA Niro CUV EV and sister company Hyundai with the Hyundai Kona EV currently has the only pure electric CUVs in the (Western) market. The Niro EV differentiates itself from the existing Niro Hybrid and Niro Plug-in Hybrid with a series of exclusive design features including redesigned intakes; new arrowhead shaped LED daytime running lights and “tiger nose.”

The inside of the Niro EV includes technologies that complement its zero-emissions powertrain and modern features. Different than the PHEV and Hybrid Niro, the BEV version’s dashboard features a light blue trim, and the center console has been simplified to accommodate the car’s shift-by-wire drive selector in the form of a ‘dial’-style shift knob, a first for KIA. The Niro EV features a new mood lighting system. Occupants can choose from six colors – white, grey, bronze, red, green, and blue. The 7.0-inch touchscreen HMI (human-machine interface) remains at the center of the dashboard but has been updated to offer a series of EV-specific features. Most importantly the range of the short and long-range versions is slightly more than indicated in the digital launch in March, with the long-range version reaching 400km (250miles) and the short-range model 300km / 186 miles. For more specs and some other surprises related to the Niro EV click here.

Week 35 2017 Kia JV in China announces EV line-up

Kia‘s Chinese partnership with Dongfeng, Dongfeng Yueda, announced this week that it would produce three pure electric and two plug-in hybrid models by 2020. The Korean due, Kia and its sister company Hyundai has experienced a drastic decline in sales and profits over the last year and have been behind most of their peers in bringing EVs to the fast-growing Chinese electric vehicle market.

Week 34 2017 Kia testing V2X systems for self-driving cars

According to the Korea Post Hyundai and it’s sister company Kia is testing V2X technology in partnership with the City if Hwaseong on a 14km section of road to test V2X (Vehicle to everything) systems. V2X technology is where the vehicle communicates on a real-time basis with the road on which it travels and includes traffic signals, other road users such a pedestrians and other vehicles.

Week 15 2017 Kia to bring a Stonic BEV in 2018

Kia announced that it will bring a pure electric version of the new KIA Stonic in 2018. The Stonic EV will use the same platform as the Hyundai Ionic, which is also expected to get a bigger battery next year. The Stonic EV will have the Hyundai Ioniq’s 88kW electric motor and a battery of around 44kWH providing a range of reaching 300km.

Week 7 2017 Kia to add a Niro BEV to the PHEV and Hybrid line-up

Kia announced that it will bring a pure electric version of the new KIA Niro in 2018. The Niro PHEV will hit the market from April 2017 with the Niro BEV expected to be released early 2018. The Nio EV will use the same platform as the Hyundai Ionic.

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