Motability Operations, the company which runs the Motability Scheme, and Kia Corporation have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to develop more affordable and inclusive mobility solutions.
The collaboration represents the next stage in partnership between both organisations and a major milestone in accessible electric motoring. A key item of the MoU will be bringing the PV5 WAV to the UK market in locally converted and fully integrated variants.
It builds on Motability Operations’ development of the eVITA concept eWAV, which was created to engage car manufacturers about opportunities for accessible design as the industry shifts to electric.
Motability Operations currently has more than 35,000 WAVs on the Motability Scheme and continues to work closely with UK converters who are also investing in EV-ready designs.
By collaborating with Kia and other manufacturers, Motability Operations aims to embed accessibility at every stage of vehicle design, ensuring this critical area of the market is protected for the future.
Kia’s first Platform Beyond Vehicle (PBV) model, the PV5, will join the Motability Scheme as a passenger vehicle from early 2026. Locally converted wheelchair accessible variants are expected to follow shortly after, and a fully integrated side-entry WAV variant designed and built by Kia will follow later in the year.
Motability Operations will support the development process of the PV5 WAV by sharing British Standards approved technical expertise through PAS 2012-1 and customer insights. The organisations will also ensure the vehicle meets the technological requirements necessary to be registered in the UK and qualify for the Motability Scheme.
Featuring a side-entry system, a 300kg-rated ramp, a custom wheelchair restraint system, and a third-row tip-up seat for caregivers, the PV5 WAV will be produced at Kia’s Hwaseong EVO Plant in Korea, using the company’s Made-In-Plant system.
Kia and Motability Operations will also explore smart charging solutions that allow customers to automatically charge when tariffs are lowest, helping reduce running costs which will benefit all drivers. The partnership will also look at how technologies such as Vehicle-to-Home (V2H) and Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) can further reduce total cost of ownership.
Andrew Miller, CEO of Motability Operations, said:
“The eVITA concept demonstrated how inclusive design works if it’s built in from the beginning, and this new MoU with Kia shows that vision becoming reality.
“By sharing our customer and WAV market insight with Kia’s innovative design teams, we’re taking the next step in creating a purpose-built electric WAV to protect disabled people’s mobility through the EV transition.”
Ho Sung Song, President of Kia Corporation, said:
“There is no better demonstration of the commitment towards Kia’s vision of ‘Sustainable Mobility Solutions Provider’ than the innovative independence that the PV5 WAV offers to those facing mobility challenges.
“The signing of this MOU with Motability Operations reinforces our commitment to leading a future where ‘Mobility for All’ is both sustainable and a basic human right.”
Image courtesy of Motability Operations/Kia
