Sjoerd Knipping from Kia Europe: How the manufacturer wants to take the electric LCV sector by storm

Kia is expanding its horizons by entering the light commercial vehicle sector with a fully electric line-up. According to Sjoerd Knipping, Vice President of Product and Marketing at Kia Europe, the company’s foray is part of a broader plan. “We’re using all the experience we’ve built with dedicated passenger cars,” said Knipping, “but now opening up a complete new sector.” The introduction will be phased, beginning with the PV5 model, followed by future offerings like the PV7, and will eventually feature modular designs.

The launch is timely, as many European cities are tightening emissions regulations. Despite recent setbacks in the electric vehicle market, particularly in Germany, Knipping believes the timing is right. “The future is electric. It will not be a smooth line going up,” he acknowledged, “but we see that more and more cities throughout Europe are banning combustion-based LCVs.”

Innovative Designs and Flexible Solutions

Kia’s new electric vehicles promise versatility with features like an “easy swap” system that allows users to adapt the vehicle for different purposes. Knipping noted that the system is still in the testing phase but hinted at future capabilities: “A first use case is a simple box, and in a second ownership cycle, it could transform into a refrigerated box.”

While Kia is not yet revealing specific pricing, Knipping assured that the offerings would provide competitive total cost of ownership. “We are bringing the customer a seven-year, 150,000-kilometre warranty,” he said, adding that details on pricing will be disclosed in early 2024.

With an initial production capacity of 150,000 units, growing to 300,000 by 2030, Kia is setting its sights on key markets like Germany, the UK, and France. As Knipping confidently stated, “For me, this is the vehicle of the future in the LCV business.” Whether Kia can truly drive Europe’s electric transformation remains to be seen, but the company’s ambition is clear.