Kia UK has revealed its Platform Beyond Vehicle (PBV) commercial vehicle plans for the UK, including a dedicated dealer network to supply sales, after sales and servicing for its products.
Revealed at the Commercial Vehicle Show, the news includes the first dedicated fully electric Kia PBV to arrive in the UK, the PV5 – with pre-orders for PV5 Cargo and PV5 Passenger from tomorrow (1 May).
To support the move, Kia will launch a brand-new network of dedicated professional business van centres across the country. It will begin with around 45 centres, offering sales and after sales services, and grow to 60 by the end of next year.
The PV5 Cargo uses the purpose-built E-GMP.S platform, and is available in two body lengths with a high roof option on the longer body. A choice of two battery options – standard range 51.5kWh or long range 71.2kWh – offer up to 181 miles or up to 247 miles respectively.
With 150kW DC and 11kW AC charging built-in as standard across all PV5 variants, minimum downtime while recharging is ensured. Rapid charging from 10-to-80% takes less than 30 minutes with either battery option, the OEM said.
The PV5 Cargo in L2/H1 configuration will be priced from £27,645 for the entry grade range battery or £30,145 with long range battery option. The PV5 Cargo will further qualify for the current OZEV (Office for Zero Emission Vehicles) Plug-in Van grant, reducing the price by £5,000.
In addition, the PV5 Passenger variant will be priced from £32,995 (OTR). This people carrying version of PV5 will eventually be available in both 5- and 7-seat configurations (5-seats only from launch), with a lifting tailgate, and will offer a range of up to 249 miles with the long-range battery. Every Kia PBV product will come with an seven-year/100,000-mile warranty as standard.
Kia said it plans to sell between 3-4,000 units in the first full year of PBV sales, building year-on-year to around 17,000 sales in 2030.
Kia first revealed its PBV business plans in its global ‘Plan S’ business strategy, announced in January 2020. Following the PV5, a larger commercial vehicle, the Kia PV7, is planned for 2027 and the Kia PV9 is planned for 2029.
Kia has invested around €3 billion to build the Hwaseong EVO plant in South Korea, where the PV5 will be built. This factory can produce 150,000 units per year.
It’s partnership with Geotab and provision of on-board technology includes native access to the Android App store via the van’s 12.9-inch central display.
Paul Philpott, President & CEO of Kia UK said:
“I am delighted to introduce Kia PBVs to the UK and our very first dedicated fully electric van, the Kia PV5.
“This is an incredibly exciting time as we grow our business into the commercial vehicle sector here in the UK for the first time. To achieve this, we are launching a brand-new network of PBV Centres to offer first-class sales and support for our commercial vehicle customers.
“The launch of Kia PBVs is the greatest change Kia has undergone since it entered the UK car market over three decades ago. We will build on our expertise gained through our car business, which has evolved the Kia brand from market newcomer in the 1990s to today being the fourth best-selling car brand in the UK.
“This new business for Kia introduces new products, new customers and a new sector of the industry for our brand. We welcome everyone to discover Kia’s groundbreaking new venture and we very much look forward to forming new relationships and helping businesses switch to electric with the Kia PV5.”
Image courtesy of Kia
