>Kia’s early-to-market approach to electric vehicle development will help it bring inexpensive models to the U.S. mass market faster than other automakers, an executive says.
>Kia America COO Steve Center told Automotive News that the brand has a head start on rivals thanks to the experience it has accumulated in the space.
>”We’re ahead of most, and we’re trying to rush out ahead because our technology will be more evolved,” Center said, noting that Kia’s newest entry, the EV9, is already on a third-generation battery.
>”You can’t just jump in and catch up. You have to have your own R&D, your own secret sauce,” he said.
[…]
>Kia has three EVs in its portfolio and targets a total of eight in the U.S. by 2029. Globally, the automaker expects EVs to account for more than half of all sales by 2030.
>The planned EVs include a pair of smaller offerings — the EV3 subcompact crossover and EV4 subcompact sedan — that Kia expects to lead mass adoption.
>Forecasters believe the EV3 will launch at the end of 2024 or the beginning of 2025. The EV4 will likely follow in 2026.
>”We’re getting there, and we will already have the expertise and the manufacturing scale,” Center said, referencing parent Hyundai Motor Group’s EV and battery complex under construction outside Savannah, Ga., which is scheduled to open in October. The plant will build six models for the Kia, Hyundai and Genesis brands.
>Kia also has updated its factory in West Point, Ga., to build the three-row EV9. That nameplate went on sale in December and is slated to move into West Point this summer.
>The battery pack is the main cost for EVs. Center said the sooner lighter, higher-energy batteries can be developed, the sooner the cost will come down.
>”That’s the holy grail,” he said.
feurie
So did Chevy with the Bolt.
Until we see if they’re profitable with the cheaper EVs we don’t know if it’s sustainable for them.
EaglesPDX
Kia already builds a nice EV for $32k which is $10k less than US average new car price. Doubt anyone wants to buy anything with less range and features for less money. EV’s are about 7% of all new car sales so hard to see the market for a lower priced EV.
If Kia were to build battery and car plants in US, it could likely sell the Kona for $25k which matches bottom end of the ICE car market.
3 Comments
Note that this executive is talking about the US market, hinting that we may likely get the EV3 – which would be spectacular.
This article was originally from Automotive News. [https://www.autonews.com/automakers-suppliers/kia-has-head-start-less-expensive-evs-executive-says](https://www.autonews.com/automakers-suppliers/kia-has-head-start-less-expensive-evs-executive-says)
>Kia’s early-to-market approach to electric vehicle development will help it bring inexpensive models to the U.S. mass market faster than other automakers, an executive says.
>Kia America COO Steve Center told Automotive News that the brand has a head start on rivals thanks to the experience it has accumulated in the space.
>”We’re ahead of most, and we’re trying to rush out ahead because our technology will be more evolved,” Center said, noting that Kia’s newest entry, the EV9, is already on a third-generation battery.
>”You can’t just jump in and catch up. You have to have your own R&D, your own secret sauce,” he said.
[…]
>Kia has three EVs in its portfolio and targets a total of eight in the U.S. by 2029. Globally, the automaker expects EVs to account for more than half of all sales by 2030.
>The planned EVs include a pair of smaller offerings — the EV3 subcompact crossover and EV4 subcompact sedan — that Kia expects to lead mass adoption.
>Forecasters believe the EV3 will launch at the end of 2024 or the beginning of 2025. The EV4 will likely follow in 2026.
>”We’re getting there, and we will already have the expertise and the manufacturing scale,” Center said, referencing parent Hyundai Motor Group’s EV and battery complex under construction outside Savannah, Ga., which is scheduled to open in October. The plant will build six models for the Kia, Hyundai and Genesis brands.
>Kia also has updated its factory in West Point, Ga., to build the three-row EV9. That nameplate went on sale in December and is slated to move into West Point this summer.
>The battery pack is the main cost for EVs. Center said the sooner lighter, higher-energy batteries can be developed, the sooner the cost will come down.
>”That’s the holy grail,” he said.
So did Chevy with the Bolt.
Until we see if they’re profitable with the cheaper EVs we don’t know if it’s sustainable for them.
Kia already builds a nice EV for $32k which is $10k less than US average new car price. Doubt anyone wants to buy anything with less range and features for less money. EV’s are about 7% of all new car sales so hard to see the market for a lower priced EV.
If Kia were to build battery and car plants in US, it could likely sell the Kona for $25k which matches bottom end of the ICE car market.