Kia previews first dedicated electric vehicle
Kia has teased the release of its first electric vehicle to use the manufacturer’s dedicated EV platform.
A series of images and videos have been revealed by Kia Corporation ahead of the release of its first dedicated battery electric vehicle, the EV6.
The new EV will be built on the company’s new Electric-Global Modular Platform (E-GMP), and it will also be the first of Kia’s next-generation BEVs to be developed under a new design philosophy which aims to embody the manufacturer’s shifting focus towards electrification.
Designers highlighted a “distinctive silhouette” which displays sharp body lines and high-tech details. Kia has also revealed the new naming strategy for its range of electric vehicles, which consists of each car starting with the prefix ‘EV’ in order for consumers to easily identify which cars are fully electric. This is followed by a number which corresponds to the car’s position in the line-up.
“EV6 is the embodiment of both our brand purpose, ‘Movement that inspires’, and our new design philosophy. It has been designed to inspire every journey by offering an instinctive and natural experience that improves the daily lives of our customers, and provide user ownership that is simple, intuitive and integrated.” said Karim Habib, Senior Vice President and Head of Kia Global Design Center.
“Our aim is to design the physical experience of our brand and to create bold, original and inventive electric vehicles.”
The official release of the EV6 is scheduled for the first quarter of 2021, and the manufacturer also announced plans to launch seven new dedicated EVs between now and 2027, under the brand’s ‘Plan S’ mid- to long-term business strategy.
Kia leads EV sales in UK
The unveiling of the EV6 is the next step in Kia’s goal to ensure a quarter of its total sales come from EV’s by 2029.
The company’s fully electric range currently consists of two vehicles, the Soul-EV and the e-Niro, the most purchased EV in the UK in 2021, according to figures released by Kia.
Electrified models accounted for 45.7% of Kia’s sales in February, and more than a third (35.5%) of the brand’s total year-to-date sales. Kia now accounts for almost one in five EVs sold in the UK year-to-date.
Paul Philpott, President & CEO of Kia Motors (UK) Limited, commented: “The market still faces major challenges, even with a growing sense of optimism across the country. That said, our dealer network continues to work hard to deliver customer vehicles safely. Meanwhile, our long-term product strategy and focus on electrification means we are able to offer a wide range of vehicles and advanced powertrains in line with the evolving expectations of our customers.”
