Kia relaunches on affordable hybrids, software and electrics. And the small EV1 arrives

Kia presented its medium- and long-term plans at Investor Day 2026, which envisage global sales of 4.13 million units per year by 2030, and a market share target of 4.5% as a result of an expansion of the electric range to 14 electric models with a target of 1 million battery-powered model sales per year by 2030. To which will be added 10 hybrid models for a total of 1.1 million units sold by 2030.

An expansion of self-driving vehicle deployment will also follow, with the production of Software Defined Vehicle (SDV) cars with Level 2+ autonomous driving technology in 2027 and additional Level 2+ self-driving models for urban environments starting in 2029. It was also announced that the EV1 electric sedan will be launched in 2027, anticipating other models to come.

The EV1, which promises to be the smallest of the brand's electric models, is expected to share hardware with the EV2, already planned for 2026, namely the 400-volt E GMP platform and 2 battery options with the entry level version expected to use a 42.2 kWh pack with over 300 km of aotonomy, while the higher trim could adopt a 61 kWh battery for just under 500 km. Power output will be similar to that of the EV2 and, therefore, will be around 147 hp for the base versions. Kia said the EV1 will be its first Sdv car, defined by software, i.e. in which everything from infotainment to the car's systems is integrated and upgradeable. Prices are estimated to start at just over 23,000 euros, making it affordable for a mass-market electric car.

Il modello PV5 di Kia vince il premio "International Van of the Year 2026" (PRNewsfoto/Kia Corporation)

Still on the subject of battery-powered cars, Kia will launch a new electric platform that will offer up to 40 per cent larger batteries with a 15 per cent higher energy density to power engines that are 9 per cent more powerful. In fact, an electric suv is on the way that will sit between the EV5 and EV9. The Korean brand, as mentioned above, will not only focus on expanding its electric range, but will also expand its hybrid range with 10 new hybrid models for key global vehicles such as the Seltos and K4, as well as range extenders for the mid-size pick-up truck with a chassis frame that will be launched by 2030. Finally, Kia is focusing on commercial vehicles: a PV7 will arrive in 2027 and a PV9 two years later, and will also invest in the more emerging robotics sector.