The EV6 was Kia’s first electric vehicle, and it was unveiled in India last year. The GT Line and GT Line AWD variants of the electric crossover are selling for Rs 60.95 lakh (ex-showroom). The vehicle, available as a full import (CBU) unit, features a 77.4kWh battery pack and a stated range of 528km on the WLTP cycle. By 2025, the company wants to increase the number of electrical products it offers and break into the mass-market EV industry with two new models.
In an interview with a media publication, Tae Jin Park, MD of Kia India, said the company will introduce two locally produced electric vehicles by 2025. He did not specify the name or specifics of the future Kia EVs, although they are reportedly an SUV (codenamed AY) and an MPV. The South Korean manufacturer will spend Rs 2,000 crore on R&D, infrastructure development, and manufacturing equipment to produce EVs locally. Kia Motors expects to increase its annual capacity to 4.2 to 4.5 lakh units in the next two or three years, with plans to increase by 10% in 2023.
The new Kia electric SUV will be placed in the company’s product lineup between the Seltos mid-size SUV and the Sonet sub-4 metre SUV. It will be a “compact lifestyle SUV” with choices for both an electric and a gasoline engine. A 1.0L turbo-petrol engine will likely be available in its ICE variant. According to reports, the next Kia small SUV will stand tall and boxy and have a different appearance from the Sonet and Seltos.
Kia India plans to produce about 1 lakh units of its upcoming compact AY SUV, with the majority (80%) going to the gasoline version. The company’s manufacturing facility in Anantapur will act as the production centre for future Kia electric vehicles.
The South Korean automaker will soon introduce the upgraded Seltos and KA4 luxury MPVs in India. By the middle of 2023, both versions will be on the road.