Kia has globally unveiled the 'Kia PV7,' a large electric model aimed at the thriving purpose-built mobility market in Europe.
The company announced on September 10 that it will showcase the PV7 at the IAA Transportation 2026, the world's largest commercial vehicle exhibition, which opens in Hannover, Germany, on September 14.
Kia will set up a 1,531-square-meter exhibition booth during the event, displaying three models from the PV7 lineup and seven from the PV5 lineup, while also presenting its vision for purpose-built mobility (PBV).
This marks Kia's second participation in the Hannover IAA, following its debut in 2024, where it announced its entry into the European PBV market. This year, the company aims to strengthen its presence in the local commercial vehicle market with the PV7.
Kia's purpose-built mobility offerings have been performing well in the European market. The PV5 sold 13,603 units in the first half of this year, capturing a 30.4% market share in the European C-segment electric van market, making it the top seller. This achievement comes less than a year after its launch in Europe.
Building on the success of the PV5, Kia plans to launch the PV7 in Europe next year to further expand its electric commercial vehicle market presence. The PV7 is developed on the PBV-exclusive electric platform 'E-GMP.S,' designed to provide spacious and flexible interiors suitable for various uses, from work to daily commuting and leisure activities.
The electric commercial vehicle market in Europe is growing rapidly. According to market research firm Dataforce, the European electric light commercial vehicle (eLCV) market reached 125,069 units in the first half of this year, a 10.2% increase compared to the same period last year. In contrast, the overall light commercial vehicle (LCV) market saw a decline of 8.7%, totaling 1,206,458 units. Notably, the mid-size electric van (eMVAN) market, where the PV7 will compete, grew by 9.2% to 57,804 units in the same timeframe.
Kia, alongside the PV5, has also seen sales growth in its passenger electric vehicle lineup, including the EV2, EV3, EV4, EV5, EV6, and EV9, with a total of 290,697 units sold in Europe in the first half of this year, marking a 6.9% increase from the previous year. The company's market share has reached 4%.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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