Kia has published a lot more about its Platform Past Automobile (PBV) technique for offering modular automobiles for last-mile supply and different makes use of, doubtlessly all over the world. And with the in depth replace, on Monday at CES in Las Vegas, it additionally supplied a glimpse of the primary a number of PBV merchandise which can be necessarily other twists on electrical trucks.

With EVs supposed for paintings and fleet makes use of, it’s making plans to release a whole new devoted PBV industry that can oversee the goods, instrument integration, and international partnerships. That may come with international conversion (upfit) companions.

Whilst it’s already trying out a few of these concepts with the taxi-focused Niro Plus in South Korea, the primary production step is Kia’s devoted PBV manufacturing facility, because of get started manufacturing in 2025 set to make as much as 150,000 automobiles yearly. They’ll be a rising and necessary piece as Kia objectives gross sales of one.6 million EVs globally by means of 2030, with the PBV merchandise together with a robotaxi and autonomous-capable ride-hailing automobile. 

It kicks off with the Kia PV5, a flexible, van-like automobile located for ride-hailing and last-mile supply. Within the PV5, a pillarless door opening and coffee loading top assist get admission to for a shipment and passengers alike.

Kia PBV Ideas

EVs that glance past the skateboard platform?

The way in which those automobiles are structured and constructed is also the largest departure from typical EVs and these days’s fleet automobiles alike, as there’s no point out of a focal point round a skateboard platform. To suit a technique of the use of a unmarried automobile chassis design to suit a complete vary of wishes, those automobiles would have equivalent “driving force zone” spaces, whilst other purpose-built our bodies would attach above and at the back of.

Additional, the corporate claims that interchangeable “upper-body “lifestyles modules” can also be attached “by means of a hybrid electromagnetic and mechanical coupling generation”—so to successfully use the similar chassis for a taxi by means of day, supply automobile by means of evening, and private leisure automobile by means of weekend. 

The construction beneath the PBV is weldless, in step with Kia, which permits numerous flexibility in adjustment. Cargo in element equipment shape would assist permit other layouts relying at the area or goal—which might relate to items, private mobility, or logistics.

Kia PV5 Thought

Robotaxi, tall trucks, room for customized builds

Kia does plan to make 5 bodily outlined variations of the PV5: Elementary (huge double doorways for shipment), Van (low with maximized top), Top Roof (prolonged for upright loading and driving force workspace), Robotaxi (passenger-oriented, operated with Motional), and Chassis Cab (best chassis rails and cab, permitting customized physique). 

Extending the imaginative and prescient well past the PV5, Kia published a three-phase roadmap that “can assist become the mobility panorama.” With it, the automaker guarantees extra fashions, complex instrument, and bespoke products and services. 

In a 2d part, Kia claims that the PBVs would evolve into “AI-based mobility platforms that use knowledge to have interaction with customers and assist stay automobiles up to date.” 

Additionally as a part of part two, Kia plans so as to add a bigger PV7 product line, in addition to its smallest PV1, with the latter designed “for agile and short-distance logistics transportation.”

Kia PV1 Thought and PV5 Thought

PV1 will probably be a maneuverability grasp

The PV1, Kia suggests, will be capable to the use of its force modules of minimizing the turning radius in slim areas—a touch, most likely, that it could put one thing just like the just lately proven Uni Wheel tech or  Hyundai Mobis’ e-Nook in-wheel motor setup to make use of. 

Those fashions may additionally get an built-in rail machine, with “rails” for the ceiling, ground, and aspect panels permitting much more flexibility. 

Tool is a huge piece of the PBV rollout, too. Kia will assist supply fleet control, stock tracking, and efficiency-focused clever course making plans, whilst charging answers from the corporate will incorporate schedules and breaks as specified for various wishes. 

The corporate at CES additionally displayed its Thought EV3 hatchback and Thought EV4 sedan fashions along the manufacturing EV6 GT and EV9 fashions—once more cementing the concept that a kind of smaller EVs is U.S.-bound.