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Kia PBV stands for Platform Beyond Vehicle. Kia PBV aims to serve as a versatile platform that can reflect the needs of various customers. From the product development stage, Kia PBV reflects these diverse needs. The vehicle itself becomes a multi-stakeholder engagement platform involving customers, conversion partners, and others from the R&D stage onward. By developing vehicles tailored to customer needs, inefficient R&D and production processes are improved, resulting in lower costs for customers and innovation in environmentally friendly production processes. In developing vehicle software that enhances operational convenience, Kia PBV also serves as a platform for multiple participants. Moving away from the traditional one-way approach of developing and selling software, we aim for an open-source model where anyone can develop and contribute software. Look forward to Kia's Platform Beyond Vehicle, which will provide a richer experience.

Meaning

Kia has revolutionised the way it produces vehicles. For a flexible production system that can produce a wide range of models, we have combined conventional conveyor production with cell production. A dedicated PBV plant, the Hwaseong EVO Plant, will be built to produce Kia PBVs in a variety of models and variants. Kia PBV revolutionises the conversion process. It will change from the existing inefficient method of modifying/specialising finished vehicles for business purposes to a production method through PBV Conversion Center. We will create a flexible conversion ecosystem to respond to each customer's special business purpose.

Production

The Kia PV5 is an ideal vehicle for intra- and inter-city travel. We recommend it for utility services such as facility management, electricity and gas, delivery services like cold chain logistics, and ride-hailing businesses such as taxis. With its sleek design, spacious interior, and a wide range of layout options, the Kia PV5 is a great choice. It is suitable for B2B customers operating a fleet of vehicles, as well as for individual business owners.

PV5

Kia PBVs were unveiled for the first time at CES 2024, the world's largest IT/electronics trade show. To incorporate customer feedback from the early stages of development, we identified and addressed the needs of domestic and overseas customers, conversion partners, and others, starting with PBV Partners Day in 2022. Customers responded enthusiastically to this approach, saying, “I am impressed by Kia's clear and innovative strategy as a brand with influence in various segments,” and “I am looking forward to a customised vehicle.” Customer responses to the Kia PBV, unveiled at CES 2024, were also very positive, with many commenting on the vehicles' exterior design, such as “the design is futuristic and cool,” and 'the design is bold and aggressive.” There was also great excitement about the advanced software-based “bespoke mobility solution.” Kia plans to develop software that will connect vehicles like a smartphone, allowing fleet managers to easily control and update multiple vehicles. Building on the proven excellence of Kia's EV passenger lineup, Kia PBV aims to be a game changer and a market leader in the EV market, providing the optimal mobility solution for a wide range of customer businesses.

Customers

Kia PBV will have a diverse product lineup. The Kia PV5, a mid-size PBV, will be launched in the second half of 2025, and the Kia PV7, a large PBV, will be launched in 2027.

Release

The PBV platform was developed with high rigidity and durability, considering the needs of B2B operators with heavy cargo loads and high mileage. It is also a new business-friendly platform with a low profile, making it easier for operators to load and unload cargo. The PBV-specific platform inherits Hyundai Motor Group's safety heritage, as seen in the E-GMP. Unlike the ICE-based EV platforms currently available in the market, Kia PBV will provide an advanced customer experience with improved performance and space utilization through the application of a dedicated platform.

Unique

PBVs can essentially use the same charging infrastructure as passenger EVs. We are continuing to invest in fast and ultra-fast charging in Korea, North America, and Europe. Our charging infrastructure will be upgraded to keep pace with the spread of EVs, enhancing the convenience of charging.

Charging

Kia PBV is preparing customised software solutions to reduce vehicle maintenance costs for our customers. We offer software solutions optimised for your business needs, including data service solutions that help you identify and manage the status of your vehicles with objective data, fleet management solutions that help you manage vehicles at the fleet level, an open platform app store that enriches your driving experience, and an In-Vehicle Display solution that enables you to implement those apps.

Software

The Kia PBV Service solutions comprise Charging, Maintenance, and Financing services. The overarching goal of Kia PBV Service solutions is to minimise the cost and time associated with your vehicle. Our aim is to reduce both the time you spend from purchase to operation and the cost of maintenance.

Service

As a 'Sustainable Mobility Solutions Provider', Kia PBV will lead the electrification of the commercial vehicle market and contribute to a sustainable future. In particular, Kia PBV is creating a green manufacturing and conversion ecosystem by revolutionising the way vehicles are currently modified. Whereas conventional vehicle conversion involves stripping and modifying components inside and outside the vehicle to adapt it to a specific business purpose, Kia PBV minimises the waste of resources and unnecessary logistics costs. Through innovations such as streamlining the conversion process and simplifying logistics, Kia PBV will achieve its corporate vision as a Sustainable Mobility Solutions Provider.

ESG

Hyundai Motor Group continues to explore new business opportunities by aligning its future core business, Kia PBV, with Robotics, Advanced Air Mobility (AAM), and Autonomous driving. With the acquisition of Boston Dynamics, Hyundai Motor Group has secured a leading position in Robotics and is accelerating its strategic transformation into a smart mobility solutions provider. In the future, Hyundai Motor Group will apply its robotics capabilities in manufacturing and logistics. In fact, Kia is currently conducting a demonstration project for last-mile robotic delivery service using Boston Dynamics' robot dog, SPOT, as part of a pilot project for logistics innovation. Hyundai Motor Group has established Supernal, an independent company, to expand its Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) business. AAM refers to the air mobility of the future, maximising the efficiency of movement within urban centres and moving people and cargo where air services are scarce. By aligning PBV, Kia's core future business area, with AAM and Vertiport (an aircraft takeoff and landing site), we will usher in an era of mobility hub businesses where the flow of movement is uninterrupted. Kia PBV is also developing the PV5 Robotaxi with Motional and plans to achieve the fourth level of autonomous driving with Motional's third-generation system in the near future. A 'Smart city' where transportation, environmental, and housing problems caused by urban life are solved, and where people can live a convenient and comfortable life, will soon be right in front of our eyes.

Innovations