Kia unveils groundbreaking PBV underpinnings at CES

Ho Sung Song, Kia President and CEO, said: “Kia’s PBV business represents our vision of going beyond the traditional concept of automobiles by fulfilling the unmet needs of diverse customers and communities through optimised vehicles and services catering to specific market and business circumstances.”

The new platform will be introduced in three phases, starting with the PV5 – an EV optimised to fulfil various requirements, including as a taxi, delivery van and utility provider. Enhanced data connectivity between vehicles and their HQ means fleets can be run more efficiently with less downtime.

In the second phase, Kia will introduce more models for the PBV platform. Phase three will see the introduction of self-drive technology and EVs controlled by a single operating system, allowing supply chains to operate entirely autonomously. 

Central to this is the PBV underpinning’s Easy Swap technology, which means a single chassis can be easily converted to perform a variety of roles. It could mean one EV could be a daytime delivery van, a taxi by night and a private car on weekends.

The platform’s Dynamic Hybrid, weldless body structure is central to this and can be adjusted according to use. The platform is made from high-strength tubular steel and engineered polymers, reducing parts by 55 per cent compared to a conventional alternative, with no rigidity loss. Sustainability is also vital, with much of the platform constructed from recycled PET fabric, felt and yarns, post-consumer materials, and bio-PU foam. 

While the PBV underpinnings allow for nearly limitless adjustability, the core vehicle will remain the same. In the case of the PV5, it means all iterations get large pillarless doors and flat floors to aid loading and unloading. The dashboard, meanwhile, can double as a desk while the steering wheel folds to serve as a desk light.

In phase one of Kia’s PBV introduction, the company will offer its PV5 EV in various formats, including a basic van, a high-roof van and a chassis cab, with an autonomous Robotaxi joining later.

Phase two will see more models in the shape of the larger PV7 designed for bigger loads and longer journeys and the smaller PV1. Its small size and high manoeuvrability will make it perfect for working in the city. Both vehicles feature an integrated rail system that makes transferring goods from one vehicle to the other easy.

“Kia PBVs will initiate a new era of seamless everyday business and lifestyle solutions. We hope to make our customers’ lives easier and better, whether they’re stationary or on the move, offering exceptional flexibility and customisation through radical modularisation,” said Karim Habib, Executive Vice President and Head of Kia Global Design.

“Untethered to any fixed place and unbounded by the traditional restrictions of space, Kia PBVs offer users a blank canvas to reimagine their lifestyles and workstyles,” said Habib.

By constructing a PBV-dedicated EVO plant in Autoland Hwaseong, South Korea, Kia can build 150,000 PBV-based vehicles per year. 

Meanwhile, the company will also launch a dedicated business system that uses AI to manage EV fleet charging and maintenance automatically in real-time, minimising the time vehicles are off the road. The same system can also provide insights into inventory, sales and deliveries, load temperatures (for frozen and chilled goods) and intelligent route planning.

In the future, PBV vehicles will be able to integrate fully with robots, air freight, and autonomous vehicles. Robots from companies like Boston Dynamics (home of Spot, the robot dog) will enhance Kia’s logistical automation and quality control. AAM (Advanced Air Mobility) will expedite the development of smart cities by introducing multimodal services, and companies like Motional will bring autonomous driving, allowing for the fully independent Robotaxi.

Concept versions of the PBV-based PV1, PV5 and PV7 will be displayed at CES, which runs from 9^th-12^th January.