Kia offers the EV3 in nine body colours — two of which have been created exclusively for the new model — Aventurine Green and Terracotta…reports Asian Lite News
Automaker Kia on Thursday revealed its new all-electric SUV — EV3, globally, offering a driving range of up to 600 km and 10 to 80 per cent battery charging in 31 minutes.
According to the company, the new EV SUV will be introduced first in South Korea in July this year, followed by its European launch in the second half of the year.
The company also plans to further expand the sales of EV3 into other regions, with subsequent launches to be expected after the European market entry.
“The EV3 aims to extend Kia’s exceptional EV SUV experience to a wider audience. With a WLTP driving range of up to 600 km and fast-charging capability, the EV3 addresses common concerns about electric vehicles,” Ho Sung Song, President and CEO at Kia, said in a statement.
Kia offers the EV3 in nine body colours — two of which have been created exclusively for the new model — Aventurine Green and Terracotta.
The EV3 measures 4,300mm long, 1,850mm wide, 1,560mm high and has a wheelbase of 2,680mm. It features a front-wheel-drive electric powertrain based on the Electric Global Modular Platform (E-GMP), utilising Kia’s fourth-generation battery technology.
The EV3 Standard model is offered exclusively with a 58.3kWh battery, while the EV3 Long Range variant is fitted with an 81.4kWh battery.
“With the EV3, Kia has redefined the EV SUV segment to create a compact model that is comprehensively equipped with innovative technology and features,” said Spencer Cho, VP and Head of Global Business Planning.
Both models utilise a 150kW/283Nm electric motor, which enables a 0-100 kmph acceleration time of 7.5 seconds.
The EV3’s maximum speed is 170 kmph, the automaker mentioned.
The tally was also higher than the annual sales of 182,627 eco-friendly cars sold in the U.S. in 2022…reports Asian Lite News
Hyundai Motor, South Korea’s biggest carmaker, and its affiliate Kia sold more than a combined 200,000 eco-friendly vehicles in the United States in the January to September period, the companies said on Sunday.
The two automakers have sold a combined 213,270 eco-friendly cars in the U.S. in the first nine months, up 61.6 per cent from the 131,986 logged over the same period last year.
The tally was also higher than the annual sales of 182,627 eco-friendly cars sold in the U.S. in 2022, reports Yonhap news agency.
Among Hyundai’s cars, Tucson Hybrid was sold the most at 30,353 units, followed by 25,306 units of its electric vehicle model, Ioniq 5, and 16,824 units of the Santa Fe Hybrid.
Among Kia’s models, sport utility vehicles were popular.
A total of 30,604 units of Kia’s Sportage Hybrid were sold in the January-September period, as well as 20,003 units of the Niro Hybrid and 19,927 units of the Sorento Hybrid.
Hyundai and Kia’s strong performance came amid the two companies’ efforts to expand their sales of commercial-purpose electric vehicles that are still eligible for tax credits under the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) though they are assembled outside North America.
The share of South Korean automakers in the U.S. commercial eco-friendly vehicle market jumped to 55 percent in August from 5 percent last year, according to the industry ministry.
All Hyundai and Kia vehicles produced since November 2021 come with an engine immobilizer as standard equipment, according to the companies…reports Asian Lite News
Hyundai Motor and its affiliate Kia said on Wednesday that they have asked a US court to reject class-action lawsuits filed in 17 cities over a series of car thefts of their vehicles.
In their documents submitted to the US court, Hyundai and Kia said they should not be held accountable for thefts resulting from an unprecedented criminal social-media phenomenon, reports Yonhap news agency.
The lawsuits came after thousands of thefts of the carmakers’ vehicles spiked in the summer of 2022 due to Tiktok videos showing how to steal cars without the theft-prevention devices under the title “Kia Challenge.”
The 17 cities include New York, San Diego, Milwaukee, Cleveland, Columbia and Seattle.
The South Korean carmakers also said subjected state governments are responsible for the thefts, citing their lack of budget and lax policing to prevent auto theft and reckless joyriding.
In February, the carmakers said they would provide software upgrades to 8.3 million units of their vehicles sold in the United States without push-button ignitions and immobilizing anti-theft devices.
All Hyundai and Kia vehicles produced since November 2021 come with an engine immobilizer as standard equipment, according to the companies.
In May, they agreed to a $200 million settlement in a class-action lawsuit filed by US consumers for failing to install anti-theft technology in the affected vehicles.
The two-wheel-drive EV9 comes with a 99.8 kilowatt-hour battery and can travel 501 kms on a single charge….reports Asian Lite News
Kia, South Korea’s second-biggest carmaker, said on Sunday it will launch its all-electric EV9 flagship SUV in the domestic market this week as part of its electrification efforts.
The three-row seater is Kia’s second model equipped with Hyundai Motor Group’s dedicated electric vehicle platform, called E-GMP, after the EV6 SUV launched in 2021.
The two-wheel-drive EV9 comes with a 99.8 kilowatt-hour battery and can travel 501 kms on a single charge. An all-wheel-drive model is also available, the company said in a statement.
The model — set to be launched on Monday — is priced at 73 million won-82 million won ($57,000-$64,000), depending on options.
Kia plans to gradually launch the EV9 in Europe, the United States and other markets in the second half, reports Yonhap news agency.
Kia plans to produce about 100,000 units a year of the new model at the Kia Autoland Gwangmyeong plant, just south of Seoul, for global sales.
The maker of K5 sedans and Sorento SUVs aims to sell 1 million EVs in 2026 and gradually fill its EV lineup with 15 models by 2027.
The company plans to add the EV9 GT-line and the performance EV9 GT models to beef up its EV lineup in the third quarter. The GT-line model adopts the design of the performance GT model to meet diverse customer demands.
It will introduce Level 3 autonomous driving technology through the Highway Driving Pilot programme in the GT-line model.
A Level 3 car allows lane changes and other autonomous driving functions to work without intervention by the driver. At Level 4, a vehicle can drive itself under limited conditions and will not operate if all required conditions are not satisfied. At Level 5, a vehicle’s automated driving features can drive under any conditions.
The EV9 has been developed under Kia’s new design philosophy, “Opposites United,” which embodies its shifting focus toward electrification.
It comes with a sleek and bold exterior design, and its flat-floor EV architecture offers an interior space with third-row seating and enhanced comfort.
The Kia Connect Store enables customers to keep their EV9 constantly updated by upgrading the SUV’s digital features and services without taking the vehicle to a dealership, it said.
With the swivel seat option, the second-row seats swivel 180 degrees to allow conversations with passengers in the third row.
It also boasts numerous safety features, such as blind-spot collision-avoidance assist, navigation-based smart cruise control and parking collision-avoidance assist systems.
This year, the company set a sales goal of 3.2 million units, higher than the 2.9 million units it sold last year.
In collaboration with its esteemed partner – Rana Motors – Kia’s assembly plant in Amasaman, Ghana is a testament to the strong partnership between Korea and Ghana, combining Korean Engineering Technology with Ghanaian dedication…reports Asian Lite News
Kia Corporation’s official distributor in Ghana “Rana Motors” has officially launched its state-of-the-art assembly plant in Ghana, marking a significant milestone in the company’s expansion strategy in the African continent. Focused on Western Africa, this strategic move positions Kia as a key player in the region’s automotive industry.
The launch event took place on May 2 and was attended by H.E. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, President of the Republic of Ghana, Hon. Michael Okyere Baafi, Deputy Minister for Trade and Industry of Ghana, Hon. Henry Quartey, Regional Minister of Ghana, and other key leaders from the country.
Kia unveils new company logo, brand slogan. (Photo Credit: Twitter/@Kia_Worldwide)
In collaboration with its esteemed partner – Rana Motors – Kia’s assembly plant in Amasaman, Ghana is a testament to the strong partnership between Korea and Ghana, combining Korean Engineering Technology with Ghanaian dedication, capabilities, and passion. The facility, equipped with the latest technology and staffed by a highly skilled team of engineers and technicians, meets Kia’s rigorous international standards to deliver only the highest quality vehicles to African consumers.
Yaser Shabsogh, Chief Operating Officer, Regional HQ, Middle East & Africa, Kia stated: “This facility not only addresses the present needs of Ghanaian customers but also proactively anticipates their future requirements. Our goal is to fulfill the demands not only within Ghana but potentially also across West Africa. We are excited about the opportunities that this expansion will bring.”
Essam Odaymat, CEO of Rana Motors, expressed the assembly plant’s importance in fostering a stronger bond between Ghana and the Republic of Korea, stating, “We humbly take pride in our role of enhancing the relationship between Ghana and the Republic of Korea by promoting excellence.”
In line with the brand’s vision to become a sustainable mobility solutions provider, the assembly plant addresses critical global challenges such as water shortage and energy consumption. Kia and Rana Motors have implemented a sustainable water approach featuring a stormwater harvesting system, enabling the capture and reuse of water runoff for daily factory operations.
Furthermore, the factory’s sustainable energy approach includes natural light, ventilation systems, and heat insulation to reduce energy consumption. In the project’s next phase, solar panels will be installed on the factory roof, enabling the facility to generate its energy sustainably, covering all its energy consumption.
The assembly plant proudly stands as the largest in Ghana and the region, assembling six vehicle models and will expand to ten models in the next few months. Spread out over a substantial 65,000 square meters of land, the Amasaman facility has a building area of 16,000 square meters, with over 1,000 square meters of living area. In keeping with its proportions, the initial operational capacity of the plant is 35,000 vehicles, with plans for expansion to 70,000 vehicles. Due to the impressive size of the factory, approximately 6,000 tons of cement and 3,500 tons of iron and steel were used in the construction.
Currently, six Kia models are being produced – Kia Cerato, Kia K5, Kia Sonet, Kia Seltos, Kia Sportage, and Kia Sorento – and this portfolio will expand to ten models soon including the K2700, K3000, Carens, and Picanto. With the introduction of the largest regional assembly plant, Kia and Rana Motors have solidified their position as one of the world’s leading vehicle manufacturers.
According to the statement, EV6 is the most hi-tech Kia ever made…reports Asian Lite News
Carmaker Kia India on Thursday entered India’s EV market with ‘EV6’.
The ‘EV6’ is the first BEV (battery electric vehicle) from Kia and was unveiled globally in March 2021.
The vehicle is built on Kia’s new dedicated EV platform ‘E-GMP’ and is pegged to offer premium mobility solutions to its customers.
“The brand will only be bringing limited units of the car and bookings of the vehicle will commence on May 26, 2022, followed by its launch soon after,” the company said in a statement.
“The EV6 will be an exclusive offering from Kia India and only available in limited quantities in 2022. With the vehicle, the company doesn’t just want to target the EV customers but intends to reach out to every potential premium car customer.”
According to the statement, EV6 is the most hi-tech Kia ever made.
“The ‘EV6’ is a true game-changer, designed from the ground up to make electric mobility fun, convenient, and accessible.”
Kia has won another 2022 Red Dot Award for its ‘EV6 Unplugged Ground’ brand cultural space in Seongsu, Seoul…reports Asian Lite News
The innovative complex, where people can experience the award-winning EV6 in fun and imaginative ways, picked up the prestigious ‘Best of the Best title in Red Dot’s ‘Interior Architecture and Interior Design’ category.
With ‘EV6 Unplugged Ground’, Kia wanted to make a statement about its refreshed brand and first dedicated electric vehicle, and create a customer space like no other. From experience zones to test drives and expert product advice, the complex immerses people in the future of mobility within one of Seoul’s most popular districts, Seongsu. Formerly an industrial neighborhood, Seongsu has emerged into a popular hub of creativity and fashion in recent years, and is affectionately known locally as the ‘Brooklyn of Korea’.
JI-MIN KIM, HEAD OF KOREA BUSINESS STRATEGY GROUP, KIA: “The purpose of ‘EV6 Unplugged Ground’ was to convey a message about a new life – recycling, sustainability, future mobility and electric vehicles. We chose Seongsu as it was a neighborhood that has also been ‘reborn’, much like the Kia brand. For this space to receive recognition from prestigious design experts at Red Dot is a huge boost for everyone at Kia.”
Kia EV6: winner of two Red Dot product awards
Shortly after being crowned 2022 European Car of the Year, the Kia EV6 also picked up two Red Dot Awards: the ‘Best of the Best accolade for its pioneering and forward-looking design as well as being named winner in the ‘Innovative Products’ category.
The Red Dot Design Award is one of the largest design competitions in the world. It is announced annually by the Design Zentrum Nordrhein-Westfalen and is divided into three disciplines: Product Design, Brands & Communication Design, and Design Concept. The history of the traditional ‘Red Dot Award: Product Design’ goes back to 1955. This year’s entries were assessed by a 50-member international jury of independent designers, design professors, and trade journalists.
EV6 has a winning combination of a long-distance real-world driving range with ultra-fast charging technology…reports Asian Lite News
The all-new Kia EV6 has been named the 2022 Car of the Year in the prestigious European Car of the Year (COTY) awards. The innovative all-electric crossover was voted the overall winner by a 61-strong jury consisting of highly respected motoring journalists from 23 European countries.
The Kia EV6 was initially listed for consideration for the top award alongside over sixty models that launched during 2021. In November, the COTY jury whittled this longlist down to a seven-strong shortlist, six of which were electric vehicles (EVs), further demonstrating the growing importance of electric vehicles to consumers as society transitions towards a new mobility future.
From making the shortlist, the EV6 successfully fought off competition from the Hyundai IONIQ 5, Ford Mustang Mach-E, Škoda Enyaq iV, Cupra Born, Renault Mégane E-Tech and Peugeot 308 to be crowned 2022 European Car of the Year.
Jason Jeong, President at Kia Europe, commented: “It’s a great honour to have won the 2022 European Car of the Year with the EV6, the first ever Kia to win this prestigious award. The EV6 is truly a landmark development that’s been designed from the outset to make electric mobility fun, convenient and accessible by combining a highly impressive real-world driving range, ultra-fast charging capabilities, a spacious high-tech interior and a truly rewarding driving experience. The EV6 is an exciting sign of what’s still to come in our evolving electrified line-up.”
Dedicated platform
The EV6 is Kia’s first dedicated EV to be based on the company’s Electric-Global Modular Platform (E-GMP). This high-tech architecture ensures the EV6 eliminates the many compromises faced by EVs that are created on platforms initially designed to accommodate internal combustion engine vehicles. As a result of its E-GMP underpinnings, the EV6 has a class-leading interior space, a highly impressive 528km driving range and 800V ultra-fast charging capabilities that enables customers to carry out a 10 to 80 percent charge in just 18 minutes.
Signifying its high-tech positioning, the EV6 was the first global model to incorporate Kia’s new design philosophy ‘Opposites United’ which takes inspiration from the contrasts found in nature and humanity. At the center of the design philosophy is a new visual identity evoking positive forces and natural energy, with contrasting combinations of sharp stylistic elements and sculptural shapes.
The 2022 European Car of the Year award is the latest in a growing number of globally renowned awards bestowed on the EV6 since its introduction last year. Other titles recently claimed include: 2022 Irish Car of the Year; 2022 What Car? ‘Car of the Year’; ‘Crossover of the Year’ at the TopGear.com 2021 awards; ‘Premium’ winner in the German Car of the Year 2022 awards; and joint winner of the inaugural ‘Best Cars of the Year’ 2021/2022 awards.
The EV6 is the first of seven dedicated EV models Kia plans to launch by 2026. The all-electric crossover will play a key role in the company’s plans to become a leading global sustainable mobility solutions provider.
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) awards Kia with eight TSP+ and TSP awards when equipped with optional front crash prevention and specific headlights…reports Asian Lite News
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has recognized eight Kia vehicles on its 2022 TOP SAFETY PICK and TOP SAFETY PICK+ awards list. The Kia Telluride, Sorento, Seltos, Carnival built after March 2021 (with specific headlights), Sportage and Soul (with optional front crash prevention and specific headlights) all received TSP awards. Kia K5 and Stinger qualified as TSP+ winners.
Yaser Shabsogh, Chief Operating Officer, Middle East and Africa, Kia Corporation commented: “As Kia makes tremendous strides towards innovation with our line-up of vehicles, passenger safety remains our upmost priority. These eight TOP SAFETY PICK and TOP SAFETY PICK+ awards from IIHS are a testament to our commitment on delivering the highest standard of safety and quality for our customers.”
The IIHS judging process recognizes TSP winners that earn ‘Good’ ratings in six crashworthiness tests: driver-side small overlap front, passenger-side small overlap front, moderate overlap front, original side, roof strength, and head restraint. In addition, TSP winners earn ‘Advanced’ or ‘Superior’ ratings for vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention tests. The vehicle must also have at least one available headlight system that earns a ‘Good’ or ‘Acceptable’ rating. For the TSP+ designation, the ‘Good’ or ‘Acceptable’ headlight system must be standard equipment.
Kia to continue long standing partnership with Australian Open as the Major Partner since 2002…reports Asian Lite News
Kia Corporation will support the Australian Open 2022 (AO22) – the prestigious tennis Grand Slam event of the Asia-Pacific region – with a series of marketing activities that highlight the company’s vision for and commitment to sustainable mobility.
As the Major Partner of AO22, Kia on January 13 held an official vehicle handover ceremony at the newly christened Kia Arena in Melbourne Park, attended by Kia and Tennis Australia executives, former Australian Open champion Rafael Nadal and wheelchair tennis champion Dylan Alcott.
Kia presented a fleet of 130 vehicles to tournament officials comprised of the popular Sportage SUV, Carnival MPV and EV6 fully electric crossover. The vehicles will transport players, match officials and VIPs in comfort and safety around Melbourne Park during the Open from January 17-30.
“As the major partner of the Australian Open for over two decades, we look forward to deepening our engagement with millions of fans around the world, while cementing the status of the Australian Open as one of the world’s most exciting sporting events,” said Artur Martins, Head of Kia’s Global Brand and Customer Experience.
Kia Arena
“In line with our commitment to spurring innovation that is inspired by nature, we are pleased to work with Tennis Australia and fans to help preserve oceanic environments around the globe through our ‘Aces for Oceans’ campaign. With each ace served during the AO and fans’ online participation, Kia will assist those aspiring to reach their tennis dreams by donating tennis equipment made with recycled waste materials to the Australian Tennis Foundation,” he added.
A key development for AO22 is the inauguration of Kia Arena, a 5,000-seat capacity stadium that will host tournament matches. Kia Arena is the fourth-largest Australian Open stadium at Melbourne Park and was constructed ahead of the 2022 event. It will also be utilized as a venue for diverse cultural, sports and entertainment programs outside of the tournament schedule.
Australian Open tournament director Craig Tiley praised the two-decade-long partnership between Kia and the AO.
CRAIG TILEY, AUSTRALIA OPEN TOURNAMENT, DIRECTOR: “The partnership between Kia and the Australian Open is one of the longest in Australian sport and we value and respect this unique relationship that has helped us grow the AO into the premium global sports and entertainment event that it is today. The Kia fleet, which includes the new all-electric vehicles for 2022, has become an iconic symbol of the AO, with the smartly branded AO Kia cars zipping around the city and keeping the AO on the move. It’s also a testament to our strong relationship that we are standing here beside Kia Arena, a year-round symbol of the friendship between Kia and the AO at Melbourne Park.”
Aside from these events and developments, Kia will operate an EV6 exhibition booth and diverse marketing activities featuring engaging digital contents. As the exclusive major partner of the Australian Open since 2002, Kia will continue to offer innovative brand-related experiences to customers around the world, leveraging the various synergies created from the Australian Open.
