Kia is aiming to expand its electric vehicle (EV) product portfolio in India and has set an ambitious target to achieve 20 percent of its total sales from EVs by 2030. To support this goal, the company had announced plans to invest Rs 2,000 crore in research and development, manufacturing of EVs, and infrastructure development in India. This investment will enable Kia to introduce two locally manufactured EVs by 2025, likely including an SUV and an MPV. However, the Kia EV6 will continue to be imported via the Completely Built-Up (CBU) route.
Recently, Kia India trademarked eight new electric car names, ranging from EV1 (entry-level EV) to EV9 (flagship EV). One of the electric models spotted testing appears to resemble the Seltos, leading to speculation that its production version could be introduced as the EV4 in global markets.
The Kia EV5 was globally unveiled at the Chengdu Motor Show in China in August 2023. This electric SUV features an upright and boxy stance, the signature ‘Tiger Nose’ front grille, substantial lower body cladding, and angular alloy wheel design inspired by the EV9. Its dimensions include a length of 4,615mm, width of 1,875mm, height of 1,715mm, a wheelbase of 2,750mm, and a weight of 1,870kg. The interior design of the Kia EV5 shares similarities with the EV9, especially in terms of the dashboard, steering wheel, and infotainment unit. It features a wraparound digital panel with an integrated driver display and center touchscreen, along with multiple tactile buttons.
The Kia EV9, the flagship three-row electric SUV, had its world premiere earlier this year. It is based on the Electric Global Modular Platform (E-GMP) and offers two battery options: 76.1kWh with the RWD Standard setup and 99.8kWh with the RWD Long-Range and AWD system. The RWD long-range version boasts a range of over 541km (as per WLTP cycle). The EV9 is the first Kia model to feature the three-step Design Sustainability Strategy and includes several advanced features and technologies.
