Kia has revealed a roadmap to launch 15 electric vehicles by 2027
A closer look at the plan
Kia recently presented a roadmap to launch 15 types of electric vehicles by 2027 and sell 1.6 million units annually by 2030. This plan solidifies its position as South Korea’s top electric vehicle manufacturer, and it is even more anticipated as it has demonstrated its competitiveness in the South Korean and overseas markets.
However, since China’s electric vehicle market has been showing unusual behavior recently, it is expected that it cannot be viewed positively. For this reason, Kia is expected to approach the market with a strategy to diversify its hybrid vehicle lineup.
Including the EV series and high-performance GT models
There are 8 types of electric vehicles currently being produced by Kia, including the 3 released EV series (EV5, EV6, EV9), Ray, Niro, Soul, Bongo, and Niro Plus. Additionally, EV2, EV3, EV4, EV7, and EV8 are scheduled to be launched, and EV will be used as the name for 9 of the 11 electric vehicle lineups to be launched by 2026.
In addition, Kia announced that it will add a high-performance version, the GT model, and a model with even better performance than the base model. This year, Kia will build its first electric vehicle factory and produce two types of electric vehicles at the factory next year.
Can Kia stop the surge of Chinese cars?
The roadmap presented by Kia could have a significant impact not only on the South Korean automobile market but also on overseas automobile markets. In particular, it is expected to impact the Asian automobile market. Recently, exports of Chinese electric vehicles have rapidly increased and are almost dominating the market. According to China’s export statistics, as of January 2024, there is an overwhelming increase of 77% compared to the previous year.
Chinese manufacturers such as BYD and Xiaomi manufacture many electric vehicles and actively export them to Asia, North America, and European countries, so it seems that their influence cannot be ignored. China’s neighboring countries, such as Russia, have already established themselves as China’s largest automobile export market and have successfully pushed out the Russian automobile market, further accelerating growth.
Starting with affordable electric cars
Not forgetting internal combustion engines
That is why the news of Kia’s expansion of its electric vehicle lineup and the addition of its hybrid lineup is even more welcome. They are working hard to popularize electric vehicles, starting with low-end electric vehicles such as the EV3, priced at 30 million won ($21,786). At the same time, they are also trying to occupy high-performance vehicles with the GT model.
In addition, Kia is steadily announcing the launch of new vehicles equipped with internal combustion engines and hybrid powertrains, as well as electric vehicles. Examples include the recently released K4 sedan in North America and the soon-to-be-facelifted K8 and Sportage. Attention is being paid to whether Kia can successfully launch electric and hybrid vehicles as planned and establish itself as the best electric vehicle manufacturer.
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