Kia believes it may promote as many as 1 million of its purpose-built electric vehicles (PBVs) in 2030 because it seems to be to develop its footprint from past only a automotive producer to a significant participant within the mobility trade.

The corporate’s deliberate PBVs are targeted on supply and taxi providers whereas being made to order, permitting for patrons to have them tweaked to go well with their wants. The autos might be underpinned by a brand new devoted skateboard platform for electrical PBVs and be manufactured on the firm’s new Hwaseong plant in South Korea’s Gyeonggi Province.

Kia has already dedicated 1 trillion received ($757 million) to this manufacturing facility and plans to begin manufacturing within the second half of 2025. It intends on producing 150,000 PBVs within the first 12 months.

Learn: Kia Confirms New Korean Factory For Electric Purpose-Built Vehicles

Nikkei Asia notes that certainly one of Kia’s first PBV prospects is e-commerce firm Coupang. These autos might be modified and outfitted with only a driver’s seat, maximizing cargo area. Coupang will use them to move refrigerated and frozen items. Kia may also produce PBVs for transport firm CJ Logistics after which plans to begin searching for prospects within the U.S. and Europe.

“We purpose to develop into the world’s high firm within the purpose-built car market,” Kia chief govt Music Ho-Sung beforehand stated. Along with the 1 million PBVs it plans to construct in 2030, Kia intends on producing 600,000 passenger EVs.

The primary PBV from the brand might be mid-sized primarily based on the brand new ‘eS’ platform. It will likely be launched in 2025 and has been developed for supply, ride-hailing, and business-to-business transactions. Following the launch of this mannequin, Kia will shift focus to large-sized PBVs that can be utilized for logistics, recent meals supply, multi-seat shuttles, and cell places of work and areas. It’s also engaged on small-sized PBVs and mid-sized robotaxis.