Kia to Unveil Two New Electric Concept Cars at EV Day Event

Kia is set to reveal two new electric concept cars, a compact crossover, and a sleek saloon, at its upcoming EV Day event in Korea. The event, which will showcase the company’s electric cars and technology, will feature three new small- to medium-sized electric models. Kia has released a teaser image showing five silhouetted models with their daytime running lights on, including the recently revealed Kia EV5 SUV. The event will also include a strategy update on Kia’s plans to grow its market share and sales in the electric age.

Kia has ambitious growth plans for 2030, aiming to sell 1.2 million EVs globally through an expansion of its EV line-up, enhanced autonomous driving technology, and new digital revenue streams. These targets are part of the brand’s ‘Plan S’ electrification strategy, which aligns with the goals of sibling brand Hyundai. Kia’s overarching goal is to become a global sustainable mobility leader.

The brand has four primary targets for 2030: selling 1.2 million battery-electric vehicles, selling four million vehicles overall, rolling out advanced connectivity and autonomous driving functionality to all models, and becoming the leading provider of purpose-built vehicles for third-party fleet operators. Kia plans to introduce purpose-built vehicles derived from existing models, including a larger Kia Niro Plus derivative. In 2025, the company will launch a new bespoke EV platform for purpose-built vehicles.

To achieve its sales targets, Kia aims to increase the share of eco-friendly vehicles from 17% to 52% by 2030. The company plans to sell 807,000 EVs per year by 2026 and reach 1.2 million by 2030. In markets with strong demand for electric vehicles, Kia aims for electrified vehicles to account for 78% of its global volume.

Kia has confirmed that its pure-electric line-up will consist of 14 models by 2027, including two pick-up trucks and an entry-level BEV. The brand also plans for all future bespoke EVs to have a GT-badged performance range-topper with differentiated designs from their standard counterparts.

Korea will remain Kia’s global hub for research, development, production, and supply of EVs. However, the company plans for other global facilities to take the lead for their respective regions. A European hub will focus on small and medium-sized EVs popular in that region, while a US site will develop and build mid-sized SUVs and pick-ups. Kia will introduce mid-sized EVs in China in 2023 and roll out entry and mid-sized EVs in India from 2025.

In line with its expansion plans, Kia aims to significantly increase its global EV battery production capacity from 13GWh to 119GWh by 2030. The company will collaborate with its Indonesian battery joint venture and other global battery companies to achieve this goal.

The upcoming EV Day event will provide more details about Kia’s new electric concept cars, including specifications for the EV5 SUV. It will also offer insights into the company’s strategy for growth and market dominance in the electric age. With its ambitious plans and commitment to sustainable mobility, Kia is poised to make a significant impact in the electric vehicle market.