Kia Motors Corporation today revealed a little more about its global electric vehicles strategy in the upcoming years. The South Korean carmaker has teased sketches of seven new battery-electric vehicles that it plans to bring to international markets by 2027. The first vehicle in this list will be a crossover, presently codenamed ‘CV’ which will be unveiled globally next year. Sharing the glimpse of Kia’s futuristic strategy via sketches, Ho Sung Song, President and CEO, Kia Motors stated that the carmaker plans to acquire twenty-five per cent of its total sales through EVs by 2029.
Kia announced its plan ‘S’ strategy earlier this year that included expansion of the EV line-up to eleven models by the year 2025. And the new sketches are another step forward showing Kia’s commitment to that goal. The sketches don’t reveal much yet but they do indicate that we can expect a number of body styles – from upright SUVs to low slung cars, that will be based on a new (Battery Electric Vehicle) BEV platform.
Post the expansion in EV business, Kia plans to expand its global after-sales network also and plans to increase the number of electric vehicle service bays to 1200 in number by 2030, firstly in its own country and then to over 2000 bays in other countries by 2023.
Currently, Kia has fully electric versions of the Soul and Niro in international markets, along with hybrid versions of the Optima and Niro. There is no word on Kia’s plans for an EV in India, but it is likely on the cards given the brand’s commitment to the Indian market and the fact that its sister company Hyundai has some experience already with the Kona Electric.