Kia Corp., South Korea’s second-largest carmaker under Hyundai Motor Group, is set to redefine mobility solutions with its modular electric platforms designed to transform into different types of vehicles using interchangeable units, much like Lego bricks.
The sibling of Hyundai Motor Co. said on Thursday that it will begin mass production this month of the PV5, a mid-sized electric vehicle built on a modular platform that allows it to be reconfigured into as many as 16 different variants, ranging from cargo vans to mobile retail units.
It said the PV5 is the first model to use Kia’s newly developed Flexible Body System, a design approach that enables various components, such as chassis modules, doors, tailgates and interior parts, to be assembled like Lego bricks onto a shared electric skateboard base.
The goal is to offer customizable configurations that serve distinct business and consumer use cases with a single underlying platform.
16 VARIANTS WITH DIFFERENT MODULAR CELLS
The PV5 will be initially launched with seven base models, including passenger and cargo variants, each sharing the same front-row structure.
The rest of the vehicle is made up of modular body cells that can be replaced or rearranged for different functions, which will allow the base models to be expanded into 16 variants, according to the company.
For example, a compact cargo model can be extended into a long-wheelbase version by replacing the center body module and rear overhang. A passenger model can be created by substituting glass panels and tailgate modules.
Kia said the vehicle can be adapted for use as a delivery van, food truck, mobile lounge or pop-up store, depending on the selected configuration.
The company will begin rolling out the PV5 five-seat passenger and cargo long-body variants this month, followed by the remaining models in phases. In June, it started taking pre-orders for the models.
KIA’S BOLD BET ON FUTURE MOBILITY SOLUTION
The PV5 is part of Kia’s broader push into purpose-built vehicles (PBVs), electric vehicles designed specifically for business and utility applications.
Under what Kia now calls the platform-beyond-vehicle (PBV) strategy, the company is positioning its PBVs not just as vehicles, but as customizable mobility solutions powered by software and spatial flexibility.
Kia aims to become a global leader in the PBV market by 2030, with an annual sales target of 250,000 units.
Kia’s PBV business is integral to its future mobility strategy, dubbed Plan S, a plan for a shift toward future mobility.
The market for personalized vehicles is viewed as a high-growth area, as such cars can be used for various purposes such as public transportation, clinics, cafes, living space and freight transfer.
The automaker previously announced a plan to unveil a micro PBV optimized for the delivery of parcels or food, a mid-sized robotaxi model and a large PBV that can replace existing buses and be used as multi-seater shuttles or mobile offices.
Kia has already signed business agreements with Coupang Inc., CJ Logistics Corp. and DHL Korea to build custom-tailored vehicles for product delivery.
The company broke ground on its first PBV plant, with commercial production expected to begin in 2025.
By Sookyung Seo
skseo@hankyung.com
Jennifer Nicholson-Breen edited this article.
