√Kia unveils electric van concepts, showroom versions due from 2025

Kia is preparing a range of customisable electric delivery vans, cab-chassis utes and people movers pitched at delivery drivers, campervan fans and rideshare operators.

South Korean car giant Kia has unveiled a fleet of electric van and people-mover concepts at the Consumer Electronics Show, which are due in showrooms from 2025.

The four concepts – described as ‘Platform Beyond Vehicles’, or ‘Purpose Built Vehicles’ (PBVs) – are designed to be highly customisable for use by rideshare drivers, delivery couriers, and a range of other businesses.

The mid-size PV5 will be the first to go into production – due in 2025 – followed by the large PV7, and pint-sized PV1.

All of the vehicles are based on a modular chassis with a ‘fixed cab’ driver section, and bodywork which can be customised, fitted or removed depending on the customer’s needs – for example, use as a taxi, delivery vehicle, or a campervan.

It is unclear for now if any will come to Australia, and how they will be sold to private customers.

The PV5 will be available in Basic, Van, High Roof, and Chassis Cab guises, with an autonomous ‘robo-taxi’ version planned to follow at a later date.

Kia says its range of PBVs will see Kia electric vehicles integrated with advanced software that allows vehicles to communicate more easily with apps, infrastructure, and other vehicles.

Future stages of its rollout of PBVs are planned to see artificial intelligence use data to interact with users for the vehicles’ infotainment systems, or management software for large business fleets.

In future Kia says its PBVs will be connected to public infrastructure such as the electricity grid, as well as the Hyundai group’s ‘flying car’ division.

A dedicated factory building PBVs in the city of Hwaseong, South Korea, is scheduled to open in 2025 with capacity to produce 150,000 vehicles each year.

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