Kia is focusing on establishing a retail and servicing network for vans as it gears up for the launch of its first light commercial vehicle in the UK in 2026.

Having unveiled a range of electric concept vehicles built on its PBV (Platform Beyond Vehicle) production line at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas at the start of the year, the manufacturer plans to introduce the PV5 compact-to-medium-sized van in January 2026, followed by the medium-sized PV7 van a year later. 

“There is a degree of flexibility because we are starting from scratch with no legacy,” a Kia spokesperson told What Van?

“The dealers who would like to take vans are in the process of letting us [Kia] know, but we are also open to [appointing] new dealers [not within the current retail network] with van centres.”

The PV5, which will go into production in South Korea in 2025, will be available as a panel van with standard and high-roofed variants, and also with chassis cab and passenger-carrying versions. The spokesperson said it would be similar in size to the Nissan eNV200.

Kia will target the passenger-carrying derivative at the ride-hailing market following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Uber in January 2024, which will see the two companies collaborate on the deployment of Kia’s PBVs. 

Dealer count

Kia has a network of 190 car dealerships in the UK and the spokesperson estimated the brand would need about 60 outlets, covering the major market areas of the country, to sell and service vans.

The existing network is made up almost entirely of franchised groups, with just a single factory-owned dealership in Bolton, so many already have experience of dealing with LCVs for other brands, the spokesperson claimed.

They added that there are parameters dealers must adhere to in order to sell electric vehicles, which for cars includes providing a certain number of parking bays with charging points. For vans, they predicted there could be a stipulation to provide both indoor and outdoor display areas.

“The 2027 van will be bigger so dealers will need bigger [workshop] ramps than for cars so we are saying you must have them now and with a suitable display [area] and the ability to supply a courtesy van.

“By January 2026 we must be ready to hit the ground running,” the spokesperson said.

They added dealership staff would be trained to deal with the requirements of LCV customers at the new Kia Academy in Derby, which the manufacturer opened this year.

The spokesperson said Kia aims to have sold 250,000 PBVs globally by 2030, comprising  150,000 PV5s, after five years on sale globally, and 100,000 PV7s, after three years, but in the long term they forecast the medium-sized PV7 would be the bigger-volume seller.

“The PV7 has less time to achieve this [target] by 2030 but it will be in the higher volume sector,” they said.

Kia has not yet disclosed details of the batteries or electric motor that will power the PV5 but has said it is aiming for a range of 200 miles. It has suggested the entry-level model will be priced at around £30,000.

Further down the line Kia plans to supplement its PBV line-up with a city van, the PV3, and an autonomous last-mile delivery van, the PV1.