11 Electric Cars Are Part Of Kia’s Plan S Global Strategy

  • Jan 17, 2020
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The carmaker will primarily focus on electric cars and mobility solutions

  • Kia’s first EV from the ground-up will be launched in 2021.
  • Markets such as Korea, North America, and Europe will be Kia’s key hubs for EV sales.
  • Emerging markets will see an expansion of internal combustion cars as well as electric vehicles.
  • A clear brand system strategy will be released in October.

Kia Motors has released its global strategy for expansion of operations. Called ‘Plan S,’ it charts out Kia’s operations in a future where governments will push carmakers towards sustainability. Kia plans to expand its electric car portfolio with both ground-up electric vehicles (EVs) and electric variants of existing models. In addition, the carmaker will also venture into customisable mobility solutions.

First, Kia will shift from combustion to electric mobility. It plans to launch its first ground-up electric vehicle in 2021. Creating a development process of ground-up EVs is also a part of the Plan S strategy. The first of Kia’s dedicated EVs was previously reported to be based on the Imagine concept. However, the carmaker says that it will be a crossover with a range in excess of 500km. Fast charging will allow it to be juiced up in a scant 20 minutes.

Kia also said that the expansion in the EV segment will see more electric variants of combustion cars alongside dedicated EVs. By 2025, there will be 11 electric vehicles in Kia’s lineup which will help it get a global market share of 6.6 per cent in the EV segment. “With the global EV market expected to gain strength by 2026, Kia is aiming for 500,000 annual EV sales and global sales of 1 million eco-friendly vehicles (excluding China),” the company says. It also projects that 20 per cent of all of its car sales will be EVs. 

Advanced markets such as North America, Europe, and its home country of Korea will be Kia’s key EV sales hubs. For emerging markets, the carmaker will expand its combustion car portfolio. Electric cars will be launched strategically. It seems Kia will continue to introduce combustion cars in India, but we will also see some EVs in the future. 

Kia and its partners will introduce services specific to electric cars. These include battery subscription, rental, and leasing services. Battery recycling businesses will help convert used car batteries to build energy storage systems (ESS). 

We saw Hyundai reveal its elaborate model for smart cities at CES. Kia, too, will concentrate on mobility services. The carmaker plans to develop purpose built vehicles (PBVs) and mobility hubs. In cities which restrict combustion cars in specific localities, Kia’s mobility hubs will be interchange stations. You will be able to park your combustion car in the hub, then take a PBV to your destination. 

PBVs will be autonomous electric robo-taxis. Like Hyundai, Kia will collaborate with ride-hailing services to allow for e-commerce transactions for PBV usage. The carmaker will provide custom-built mobility hubs and PBVs to specific customers and businesses. Mobility hubs can be equipped for logistics and even car maintenance. Thus, you might be able to get a wash and service while you explore Beech Street in London. 

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Kia has said that it will present a brand system in October. One of the biggest challenges to carmakers today is to maintain profits during the transition to electric. Kia claims to emphasize shareholder value and will work to make the businesses profitable. Plan S has the makings of a sound development strategy for the future. We hope to see more carmakers releasing such plans in the coming years.

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