In a presentation to buyers this week, Kia introduced plans to spice up its EV gross sales targets and launch a purpose-built robotaxi.
The automaker stated it is now focusing on gross sales of 1.6 million EVs yearly by 2030—up from the earlier 1.2 million yearly by 2030 introduced simply final 12 months. Kia additionally plans to have 15 EV fashions in its international lineup by 2027, another from what was introduced final 12 months. That focus on had already been elevated from a deliberate 11 international EVs by 2026.
Rendering of Kia Function Constructed Automobiles
Kia additionally introduced a robotaxi, an autonomous automobile aimed particularly at ride-sharing companies, however with no particular timing for that automobile. It is going to be considered one of a number of so-called “purpose-built automobiles,” Kia’s time period for automobiles designed for mobility companies like trip sharing and last-mile supply. The robotaxi will probably be a part of a “full lineup” of those automobiles, Kia introduced, beginning with a mid-size model to constructed at a devoted manufacturing facility in Hwaseong, South Korea, starting in 2025.
Tesla’s Elon Musk final 12 months claimed that future robotaxis will make the necessity for inexpensive EVs much less pressing or related, however Kia’s technique partitions them right into a separate enterprise from passenger vehicles, which means costs of these automobiles will nonetheless must be maintained at a sure stage. Regardless, robotaxis are depending on autonomous-driving tech that is nonetheless beneath growth.
2023 Kia EV6 GT
Kia’s subsequent electrical model for particular person shoppers is the EV9 SUV, which the automaker simply confirmed will probably be constructed at its West Level, Georgia, manufacturing facility beginning in 2024. Different future Kia fashions may probably be constructed by the Hyundai “Metaplant,” additionally in Georgia.
In a earlier sustainability roadmap launched in 2021, Kia additionally talked about plans for a hydrogen fuel-cell automobile lineup in 2028, however did not present any updates on this on this week’s presentation.
