Kia expects its bigger electric vans to outsell the PV5 as it targets 250,000 by 2030 — SkimNews
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- Kia revised its 2030 electric van forecast, now expecting the larger PV7 and PV9 to account for ~130,000 units combined versus ~120,000 for the PV5, within a 250,000-unit overall target.
- PV7 debuted at IAA Transportation with Kia CEO Ho-Sung Song declaring 'The real game begins now'; the van measures 5,350mm long on a 3,500mm wheelbase, significantly larger than the PV5's 4,695mm length and 2,995mm wheelbase.
- Kia has roughly 4,000 units on standby and 17,000+ under negotiation, with secured contracts including Bravida (~400 PV7 vans), UK mobility provider Motability (300+ units), and Finnish elevator company Kone (300+ units).
- PV5 became Europe's top-selling small electric van (C-segment) with a 37% market share in the first half of 2026, exceeding 50% of electric C-segment sales in five countries.
- Kia will launch the PV7 in Korea and Europe in the second half of 2027 with 23 planned variants, but is not targeting the US because, per Song, long driving distances make converting delivery vehicles to electric impractical.
- Kia's original 2024 CEO Investor Day target allocated 150,000 units to the PV5 and 100,000 to the PV7; the mid-size van segment where the PV7 competes represents Europe's 'main market' for light commercial vehicles at roughly 800,000 units.
Why it matters: Kia's revised mix tilts toward Europe's ~800,000-unit mid-size LCV segment, where it now holds 300+ corporate negotiations and 17,000+ units under contract, with named fleet wins from Bravida, Motability, and Kone providing real pre-launch demand. The deliberate US skip reflects a structural read that long-haul distances blunt electric delivery van viability, concentrating Kia's commercial bet on Europe, Korea, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific.
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![Kia’s larger electric van caught with less camo ahead of its ‘big’ debut [Images]](https://electrek.co/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/08/Kia-PV7-caught.jpeg?quality=82&strip=all&w=1400)
![Kia’s new EV van is over 17.5 ft long and can haul 9 people or lots of cargo [Images]](https://electrek.co/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/09/Kia-PV7-EV-van-images.jpeg?quality=82&strip=all&w=1400)
![The Kia PV5 is getting a bigger sibling: Here’s our first look at the PV7 [Video]](https://electrek.co/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/06/Kia-PV7-EV-van-first-look.jpeg?quality=82&strip=all&w=1400)