Kia plans to start building e-cars in Europe in 2025
Car manufacturer Kia plans to start building electric cars in Europe as early as 2025 as part of a newly expanded electric strategy.
It would be South Korean's first e-car built in Europe. According to reports, it will be a compact hatchback. Kia is to expand its range of fully electric models in Europe with a small crossover.
The two new models were promised as part of Kia's revised 2030 EV strategy, which will see at least two all-electric vehicles launched each year from 2023. Kia CEO Ho Sung Song announced a new model roadmap back in March at an investor day. The brand's previous EV plan called for the introduction of eleven e-models by 2026. Under the expanded plan, Kia is now said to want to develop, among other things, an additional two electric pickups, including one specifically for emerging markets and an entry-level model. By 2027, Kia is expected to have 14 electric cars in its portfolio. The brand, which is part of the Hyundai Group, currently sells three e-cars in Europe: the e-Soul and e-Niro compact cars and the EV6 mid-size crossover.
According to the unnamed sources, Kia's upcoming e-cars include: from the second half of 2023, the EV9 large SUV, which has already been shown as a concept vehicle. It is said to pack a 100-kilowatt battery with a range of more than 540 km; from 2024, a yet-unknown small crossover; from 2025, the European-built compact hatchback model, about the size of the current Ceed, plus a small-car-sized crossover possibly made in India and a larger compact SUV; by 2027, an all-electric mid-size fastback sedan is also expected to appear. Insiders shared that the plan is still subject to final approval from senior management and that "the final timeline may vary depending on market conditions".
1.2 million electric cars by 2030
According to the 2030 roadmap for its electrification unveiled in March, Kia aims to increase annual sales of all models to 4 million by 2030 from 3.15 million in 2022. Sales of fully electric cars are expected to grow to 1.2 million by then, from 160,000 in 2022 and a planned just over 800,000 in 2026.
According to the plan, production of fully electric models will start next year in China, in the USA in 2024 and in Europe and India by 2025. In Europe, mainly small and medium-sized electric cars will be produced. In the US, where large SUVs and pickups are popular, mainly electric versions of these models will be assembled. In China, Kia plans to build primarily mid-size e-cars and in India, mainly entry-level and mid-size e-models will be built.