- Kia’s president has described a €20,000 EV as the company’s “next, next target.”
- Before the arrival of this model, Kia will launch a Rio-sized supermini known as the EV2.
- An electric successor to the Stinger is still in the early stages of planning.
Kia is exploring the possibility of launching an all-electric city car akin to the current Picanto while also working on an electric replacement for the Stinger, which could sit at the top of its performance line-up.
Alongside Hyundai and Genesis, Kia has been one of the leaders among legacy automakers in transitioning to electrification. It is steadily growing its range with the most recent additions being the EV3 and EV5. According to Kia president Ho-sung Song, an electric car to replace the Picanto is the firm’s “next, next target.”
Read: This Is What We Know About The Kia EV2
Such a model is still at least a few years away. Kia is looking to lower the cost of its EVs in €5,000 (~$5,500) increments and, in 2026, will launch a mini car known as the EV2 priced below €30,000 (~$33,300). According to Song, creating an electric city car between €15,000 (~$16,600) and €20,000 (~$22,200) will be “very difficult, very challenging,” but it’s a task the brand is up for.
“Our next target is an EV model starting from €30,000,” Song told Autocar. “This is what we’re preparing to offer customers. Still, we think we need sub-€25,000 (sub-£21,070) in our EV cars and maybe we can leverage around €20,000. But that cannot happen in the next two years.”
The Kia EV2 will be similar in size to the Rio and likely ride on a shorter version of the Hyundai Motor Group’s E-GMP architecture with a 400-volt system. Chances are, a smaller model to sit below the EV2 would also leverage the same platform and electric motor options, helping to keep costs down.
Then there’s the Stinger. Production of the sedan ended last year after five-and-a-half years, and it initially passed the Kia performance baton on to the EV6 GT. However, Song has revealed the brand is actively investigating a dedicated model to replace the Stinger and serve as a new halo.
“That kind of model is under study,” he said. “What kind of model can help build the brand? This is what we are now studying.”
Given that this project appears to still be in its early stages, it could progress and develop in many different ways. If it is a new halo, then it’d have to out-muscle the EV6 GT with its 576 hp, and is hopefully packaged in a more traditional sedan silhouette.
Note: The opening rendering from Carscoops depicts the 2026 Kia EV2 and has not been endorsed by Kia.
