Kia launches EV5 SUV in South Korea

Kia has launched its fifth dedicated EV, the EV5, in South Korea, with plans to export the compact SUV to Europe and Canada.

The EV5 is built on Hyundai Motor Group’s E-GMP platform and will be produced at Kia’s Gwangju plant for domestic and overseas markets.

The South Korean version features design and safety specifications tailored to local regulations, differing from the model previously introduced in China.

The vehicle is powered by an 81.4 kWh nickel-cobalt-manganese battery and a 160 kW front-wheel-drive motor, with batteries supplied by China’s CATL.

Kia said the battery choice was made to ensure a stable supply chain.

🔗 Source: The Korea Times

🧠 Food for thought

1️⃣ Kia’s electric transformation spans over a decade of gradual expansion

The EV5 represents a significant milestone in Kia’s electric journey that began cautiously over ten years ago.

Kia’s first electric vehicle, the Soul EV, launched in 2014 with a modest 200 km range and required over five hours for a full charge2.

The company has since evolved from that single electric model to now having five dedicated electric vehicles, including the EV3, EV4, EV6, and EV93.

This measured expansion contrasts with some competitors who made more aggressive all-electric commitments, demonstrating how established automakers have taken incremental approaches to electric transformation.

The EV5’s planned exports to Europe and Canada show Kia is now confident enough in its electric capabilities to compete internationally, a major shift from the Soul EV’s limited regional launches a decade ago.

2️⃣ Korean automakers increasingly rely on Chinese battery technology despite domestic alternatives

Kia’s decision to use CATL batteries over South Korean suppliers like LG Energy Solution or Samsung SDI reflects broader shifts in the global battery supply chain.

The company explicitly cited “cost, performance, quality and safety” factors in choosing CATL’s nickel-cobalt-manganese batteries1, with reports indicating CATL’s batteries are more cost-effective than Korean alternatives3.