Kia’s Sportage-sized electric SUV remains unconfirmed for Australia

The Kia Sportage-sized Concept EV5 electric SUV was revealed a few months ago now, with it still only confirmed for a Chinese market launch at this stage.

Kia Australia product planning general manager Roland Rivero told CarExpert his team would jump at the opportunity to bring the EV5 to our market, if it becomes available.

“We’ve never kept it a secret that just about every product that’s been part of this Plan S global strategy, we want to put our hand up for,” said Mr Rivero.

“[The EV5 is] still unconfirmed, but we’d like to bring an EV5 to the Australian market if we get the chance.”

Kia hasn’t revealed the production version of the EV5 yet, but the Concept EV5 was unveiled as part of the company’s Chinese EV day in March.

The EV5 will initially be released in the Chinese market later this year, with details on global available coming “in due course”.

Kia says the Concept EV5 gives us a glimpse at the aesthetic and design direction it intends to pursue in future electric models.

The exterior follows the same design cues as the EV9, with the ‘Digital Tiger Face’ and chunky, squared-off lines.

When asked directly how long until Kia has a budget-oriented rival to the likes of the BYD Atto 3 and MG ZS EV, Mr Rivero was more skeptical.

“I don’t know if we want to be in that space,” said Mr Rivero.

“At least what our EV products represent really is the upper end of our range, the brand enhancer or halo of our range.”

“It’s having that effect of lifting not only the desirability of the Kia brand, but the desirability of just about every other product in the Kia brand range

“I think where EVs roles are at the moment is more so as an aspirational product and inspirational product.

“Plenty down the track as that range gets bigger, and we get better supply we can look at something along those lines, a more affordable one.

“To say it’ll be an MG equivalent… at this point in time we’re not looking at it.”

As previously reported, Kia plans to have a total of 14 battery electric vehicle (BEV) models by 2027. One of these vehicles is confirmed to be an “entry-level BEV model”.

The South Korean carmaker currently plans to sell a total of 160,000 BEVs worldwide this year, ramping up to 1.2 million in 2030.

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