PV5 electric van sales are so hot, Kia is ramping up production

The new PV5 is Kia’s first entry into the commercial vehicle space, and the company had ambitious plans to sell some 4,000 of the boxy EVs to UK fleets in 2026. Well, it’s April – and it looks like Kia is going to have to build a lot more than that if it’s going to meet demand.

The Kia PV5 electric van has been on sale in the UK for less than four full months, and they’ve already received orders for almost the entire planned 2026 production run of ~4,000 units by nearly 50%. The South Korean brand is responding to the market’s anticipated appetite for the new van by announcing plans to deliver ~6,500 units.

“We fundamentally believe in the automotive future being electric,” explains Kia UK President and CEO Paul Philpott. “What’s got to change is that van drivers, van purchasers have got to have the confidence that going electric will meet their business needs … (that) means providing fast charging, suitable charging infrastructure and affordable vehicles. We can do part of that, but it also needs investment in continued infrastructure improvements and consistent communication messages from the Government.”

The vast majority of PV5 sales have been for commercial and cargo versions of the van, which account for 77% of total sales, with the passenger versions (obviously) making up the remaining 23% of sales.

Advertisement – scroll for more content

Flexible workspace

Since the PV5 platform’s original launch at CES two+ years ago, the company has touted the platform’s baked-in flexibility, showing the PV5 (and other commercial concepts) as mobile stores, food trucks, campers, taxis, and even a utility/pickup bed.

The PV5 itself features a choice of 51.5 and 71.2 kWh battery packs good for up to ~250 miles of range (WLTP) on the long range versions. That van can charge from 10–80% in about 30 minutes on a 150 kW DC fast charger for quick top-offs during lunch breaks on longer routes and increased fleet compatibility.

While the van is not yet confirmed for the US market, UK B2B car site Autocar reports that Kia’s stronger-than-expected start in the UK will deliver a significant strategic advantage for its car business there, too. The way the UK’s ZEV compliance credits shake out, those 6,000-ish PV5 sales are expected to generate credits equivalent to nearly 10,000 electric car registrations in 2026, alone.

We had a chance to interview Kia’s James Bell about the brand’s electric future just after the PV5’s launch – you can take a look at that “classic” Quick Charge episode, below, and stay tuned for a sequel coming soon.

Interview: Kia’s James Bell

SOURCE | IMAGES: Kia, via Autocar, Van Expert.

If you’re considering going solar, it’s always a good idea to get quotes from a few installers. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. It has hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it’s free to use, and you won’t get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.

Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you’ll get access to unbiased Energy Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started here.