Kia believes it has significant merit over its competition in the EV race and can bring models to market faster than many others.
The South Korean brand currently has three electric vehicles in its U. S. portfolio. Two of Kia’s next peak vehicles will be production EV3s and EV4s, which are expected to arrive in late 2025 or early 2025. and 2026 respectively. According to Steve Center, Kia America’s chief operating officer, other logos will have to start catching up to keep up with Kia.
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“We are ahead of the maximum and we want to move forward because our generation is going to be more advanced,” he told Auto News. “You can’t just jump in and catch up. You’ll have to have your own R
The key to Kia’s expanded BEV portfolio in the U. S. The largest electric vehicle and battery production complex in the U. S. will be Hyundai Motor Group’s battery and electric vehicle production complex near Savannah, Georgia. It is scheduled to open in October and will build six electric cars for the Kia, Hyundai and Genesis brands. It will also soon move production of the three-row EV9 to its modernized plant in West Point, Georgia.
During his recent interview, Center noted that the $7,500 federal EV tax credits in the U. S. are not the only ones that can be used to protect the environment. The U. S. tax authorities will be especially important for low-income households, as most early adopters are wealthier and earn too much to get the credits.
“If you look at the market, buyers are wealthier and their income gradually goes down if they buy it,” he said. “But if they lease the car, which most of them do anyway, they get a reduction When affordable electric cars are made in the U. S. , the rebate will appeal more to low-income households.
Center noted that Kia’s initial strategy to reach the market will continue to pay off in the long term and allow other brands to get a foot in the door.
“Just because you’re great at anything else doesn’t mean you’re going to be great with electric vehicles,” he said. “If someone needs an electric vehicle and their normal logo doesn’t have it, they’re going to have to do it. “Take a look elsewhere. They’ll have to explore other logos right away. We’ll be promoting Kia’s moment and third electric vehicle to consumers when other corporations finally join the act, and they’ll have to conquer.