Kia Sportage size Concept EV5 The electric SUV was revealed a few months ago now, with it still only confirmed for a Chinese market launch at this stage.
Kia Australia product planning general manager Roland Rivero told Car Expert his team will take the opportunity to bring the EV5 to our market, if it becomes available.
“We have never made it a secret that almost every product that is part of this Plan S global strategy, we want to put our hands on,” said Mr. Rivero.
“[The EV5 is] not yet confirmed, but we would like to bring the EV5 to the Australian market if we get the chance.”
Kia hasn’t revealed the production version of the EV5 yet, but the Concept EV5 was unveiled as part of the company’s Chinese EV day in March.
The EV5 will initially be released in the Chinese market later this year, with details on global availability coming “in the near future”.
Kia says the Concept EV5 gives us a glimpse of the aesthetic and design direction it wants to pursue in future electric models.
The exterior follows the same design cues as the EV9, with a ‘Digital Tiger Face’ and double-boxed lines.
When asked directly how long Kia has had budget-oriented rivals such as the BYD Atto 3 and MG ZS EV, Mr. Rivero was more skeptical.
“I don’t know if we want to be in that space,” Mr. Rivero said.
“At least what our EV product represents is the top of our range, the brand enhancer or the halo of our range.”
“It has the effect of increasing not only the desirability of the Kia brand, but the desirability of almost every other product in the Kia brand range
“I think where EV’s role at the moment is more of an aspirational product and an inspirational product.
“A lot down the track as the range gets bigger, and we get better supply, we can see something along those lines, which is more affordable.
“To say it’s going to be the MG equivalent… at the moment we don’t see it.”
As previously reported, Kia plans to have a total of 14 battery electric vehicle (BEV) models by 2027. One of these vehicles is confirmed as an “entry-level BEV model”.
The South Korean automaker now plans to sell a total of 160,000 BEVs worldwide this year, rising to 1.2 million by 2030.
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