Though it could be a while away, Kia has suggested it is considering expanding its electric vehicle (EV) lineup with an entry-level city car that could take the place of the current Picanto.
Autocar reports word from Kia president Ho-sung Song that such a replacement was the “next, next target” in the long term, though the cost of EV technology would need to decrease considerably to make it feasible.
The British outlet suggests an entry-level city EV would need to cost less than €20,000 (~A$33,000), which would not be possible before 2030.
Mr Song told Autocar producing a model in the €15,000-€20,000 (~A$24,700-A$33,000) city car segment was “very difficult” for any brand, regardless of its powertrain.
100s of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now.
“Out next target is an EV model starting from €30,000 (A$49,500). This is what we’re preparing to offer customers,” said Mr Song.
“Still, we think we need sub-€25,000 (A$41,200) in our EV cars and maybe we can leverage around €20,000 (A$33,000). But that cannot happen in the next two years.”
Kia has indicated it is working on bringing down the cost of its EVs incrementally. The EV3 costs around €35,000 (~A$58,000) in the UK, and the incoming EV2 is expected to sit below €30,000 (~A$50,000).
This latest report follows Kia’s previous move to trademark a series of names from EV1 to EV9, as well as reports the brand is still considering a brand-building halo model like the defunct Stinger.
Kia’s current smallest and cheapest planned EV is the EV2, which is set to be produced at the South Korean carmaker’s plant in Slovakia from 2025 ahead of deliveries in 2026. It’s unclear whether it will be offered in markets outside of Europe.
Kia has confirmed the EV3, which sits above the EV2, will make its way to local showrooms in the first quarter of next year.
If it is positioned similarly to the UK model, the Australian-spec EV3 could slip under the $50,000 mark. That would bring it into contention with Chinese EVs like the BYD Atto 3 and MG 4.
In the UK, the base 2025 Kia EV3 Air comes with the ‘Standard Range’ 58.3kWh battery and a 150kW/283Nm electric motor, good for a claimed WLTP combined driving range of 267 miles (429 kilometres). Buyers can also opt for an 81.4kWh battery pack with a range claim of 372 miles (598km).
For context, the current Kia Picanto is the cheapest car on sale in Australia. The range starts at $17,890 before on-roads and extends to $21,290 before on-roads.
All variants are powered by a 1.2-litre four-cylinder petrol engine producing 62kW and 122Nm.
It measures in at 3595mm long, 1595mm wide, and 1485mm tall on a 2400mm wheelbase.
The EV3 on the other hand measures a maximum 4310mm long, 1850mm wide and 1560mm tall on a 2680mm wheelbase.
MORE: Kia Stinger EV could be back on the table – report
MORE: Kia EV2 budget electric car coming for the VW ID.2
MORE: 2025 Kia EV3: Australian timing for entry EV confirmed
