Kia unveils PV5 electric van as a futuristic ‘people mover’

With the PV5, Kia has declared its intention to compete with heavy hitters like the Volkswagen ID Buzz, Ford E-Transit, Mercedes eSprinter, and Ram ProMaster EV. There are very few electric vans on the market today, but that looks to be changing with these new entrants.

The PV5 will come in a number of configurations, depending on whether you want something for cargo delivery, rideshare, or just to fulfill your #vanlife fantasies. There will also be models built for specialized conversions, which is sure to thrill the van conversion aftermarket.

While the passenger version features a large window area, the cargo variant emphasizes space efficiency with a clean, modern look. Kia didn’t offer any details about its powertrain, range, price, or availability.

The PV5 will be the first of many PBV-branded vehicles to come from Kia. PBV was introduced during CES 2024 in Las Vegas as a family of EVs built on a flexible vehicle architecture, with different swappable body types. The vehicle can be transformed from a minivan to a full-size van to a small truck, depending on the specific need. The driver cab remains fixed, while the rest of the vehicle is interchangeable, like a real-life Duplo set.

Kia said it will reveal more details about the PV5, as well as a new model, at its Kia EV Day in Spain later this month. A heavily camouflaged PV5 was spotted by Electrek earlier this month in the US.