Kia wants 2 out of 3 European sales to be EV by 2030

Kia is aiming for more than two-thirds of its new cars sales in Europe to be all-electric by 2030.

The South Korean brand’s president and CEO Ho Sung Song outlined the ambition during its annual investor day, where he confirmed the introduction of several new all-electric models.

Ho said that under Kia’s Plan S strategy, by 2030 it wanted to achieve global sales of 4.19 million and secure a 4.5% market share. As part of that, Kia also wants to attain a 4.3% share of the global EV market with 1.26 million electric vehicle sales.

By 2030, Kia plans to have 15 EV models on sale in markets around the world.

Across all markets, the brand wants 30% of all its sales to be pure electric vehicles by 2030 but it has higher ambitions for Europe. Here, it wants 68% of all its car sales to be EV by the end of the decade, and for 86% to be ‘electrified’, including EVs and hybrids.

To help do this, it will expand its existing EV line-up from three to six passenger models and three commercial vehicles. Later this year, the EV3, EV6 and EV9 will be joined by the EV4 and EV5, and Ho also confirmed that the compact EV2 will enter production before 2030.

To support production of these new models, Kia is expanding its EV manufacturing enterprise in a number of key regions. While Korea will serve as a global hub for research, development and production, Kia factories in North America, Europe and India will also grow. European sites will focus on compact SUVs and hatchbacks while American production will focus on mid-to-large SUVs and India will produce cheaper locally targeted compact SUVs.

Alongside its growing passenger car line-up, Kia also plans a rapid expansion of its electric LCV offering. It aims to sell 250,000 electric vans across the world by 2030.

Later this year the PV5 van will arrive to challenge the Ford E-Transit Custom and VW ID Buzz. Initially offered as a panel van or MPV passenger transport, the PV5 range will also come in chassis cab form and with a variety of conversions ranging from open bed and refrigerated truck versions to a light camper van.

Following the PV5’s launch, the larger PV7 will arrive in 2027, with the PV9 due to begin production in 2029.

“Since launching the Kia Transformation strategy in 2021, Kia has continuously progressed to become a provider of sustainable mobility solutions that innovate space and enable customers to make better use of their time beyond conventional means of transportation,” said Ho Sung Song.

“We will continue to develop the brand by implementing mid-to-long-term strategies to strengthen our internal stability and respond effectively to changes in the auto industry.”