Kia will launch a new small electric hatchback in Europe next year as part of a strategy to dramatically boost its EV sales mix in the region by the end of the decade.
The new model, which is described as a ‘B-hatch’, is expected to be a similarly sized but lower-riding sibling to the upright Kia EV2, and serve as a rival to the likes of the Renault 5, Peugeot e-208 and Vauxhall Corsa Electric.
Kia says the new Europe-focused model – which could be positioned as an EV alternative to the Picanto and take the EV1 badge – will be the first ‘software-defined vehicle’ in this segment, referring to its strategy of centrally integrating all of the car’s core systems into one unit.
It will use the same 400-volt E-GMP platform as the EV2, and is expected to share the taller car’s 42.2kWh and 61kWh batteries, for a range window that’s likely to span from 200 miles in the cheapest variants, up towards 300 in the Long Range car.
Kia has given no concrete details of the hatchback, but it will be the firm’s cheapest electric car, with prices likely to start in the low-£20,000s to line it up against its Renault and Stellantis rivals.
There’s no word, either, on where it could be built, but the company’s push to build cars in the regions where they are sold means the EV2 factory in Slovakia is a likely candidate.
The ‘EV1’ will be one of 14 electric vehicles Kia plans to offer across all segments globally by 2030, up from 11 today – with that total made up of two ‘passenger models’, nine SUVs and three ‘purpose-built vehicles’ (commercial vehicles).
One of the new SUV models will be a ‘flagship volume EV model’ launching in 2029, which Kia says will build “on its SUV heritage to drive trade-up demand from Sportage HEV and PHEV, as well as high-trim EV5 customers.”
The new additions form part of a strategy to grow EV sales to one million units per year by 2030, for a market share of 3.8%, up from 250,000 and 1.7% in 2025. That goal is down around 20% on Kia’s earlier plans, in recognition that EV uptake is progressing at different speeds in different global regions, and combustion-based drivetrains still have a significant role to play in the coming years.
Speaking at Kia’s annual investor day conference in Seoul earlier today (9 April), Kia CEO Ho Sung Song said the global electric vehicle market “is now entering the ‘chasm’ phase”, with growth slowing following an initial spike in demand during the early phases of the EV roll-out.
