As Earth Day approaches, it’s an electric week at Auto123 as we highlight notable advancements in the EV segment.
As Earth Day approaches, it’s an electric week at Auto123 as we highlight notable advancements in the EV segment.
In recent weeks, some automakers have postponed the advance or launch of some planned new electric models, basically due to a slowdown in demand around the world.
Kia, however, is staying the course. At a recent investor conference, the Korean automaker reaffirmed its goal to continue ongoing projects and its electrification goals.
Specifically, Kia said that the production edition of the EV3 electric concept can be expected before the end of the year.
At the last Los Angeles Auto Show, Kia unveiled two compact electric concepts, the EV3 and EV4.
Kia promises that any of those products will have more features in the EV segment, providing precisely what is missing in the existing EV market: less expensive propositions.
Kia’s chairman and chief executive, Ho Sung Song, said the company aims to be a “sustainable mobility solution provider. “The Korean automaker still plans to sell 4. 3 million units annually until 2030, up from 3. 2 million currently. It also estimates that by that time, 58% (a fairly accurate figure) of the models it will sell globally will be electrified in some form.
Of course, to achieve this goal, the company wants to be aggressive, offering more vehicles to compete with, among others, Chinese companies.
In China, Kia already offers the EV5, which is expected to hit the European market this year. The company also talked about a yet-to-be-revealed model called EV2. Its name obviously indicates a smaller model than the EV3, which means it’s probably not destined for North America.
This year alone, the logo plans to feature six models, followed by eight more electrified models through 2026 and nine through 2028. Its full lineup of electric cars will come with 15 models through 2027.
Six of these models will be introduced until 2026, with the EV3 being added. Although we’ve only seen the vehicle in concept form, its lines are in line with those of the brand’s most recent products, adding the larger EV9, which debuted. This year. We can believe a very similar signature for the small SUV.
The EV3 will use the same E-GMP (Global Electrical Modular Platform) that serves the EV6 and EV9, but its electrical architecture will be either 400 volts or 800 volts, a matter of cost. Analysts estimate that the style could be introduced as recently as around US$30,000.
One caveat: The company declined to confirm to Insideevs whether the EV3 would be coming to North America. At the same time, the fact that it was unveiled at the Los Angeles Auto Show suggests that it will.
One thing is for sure: the first companies to offer affordable electric cars will sell a lot of them. On the other hand, it will be vital that they can do so with benefits, so that the solution can be financially viable.
We will be keeping a close eye on the EV3, as it is a small vehicle that has prospects of being big in Canada.