Kia is planning to enter the world of commercial vehicles, as it is set to launch its first concept electric vans at the CES show in January 2024.

The Kia electric vans are collectively known as ‘PBVs’, although the brand has already changed its mind about what this stands for. To start off with it was defined as ‘Purpose-Built Vehicles’ but this has now evolved to ‘Platform Beyond Vehicle.’ What Kia hasn’t done is define precisely what either of these phrases really mean, but there have been some hints.

The most recent announcement, confirming the plans to go to CES, say that the brand will be discussing its intentions for the future. This is set to include hardware such as ‘Easy Swap and Dynamic Hybrid modularisation technologies’ and software solutions.

This implies that there will be future customisation that means you can tweak your van once you have bought it, should your business needs change over time.

But what about the vans?
So far we know only a bit about what is planned, most of which has been informed by the solitary, shadowy teaser image that Kia has released. There are two platforms, which means there is scope to be a selection of different sizes of van.

The two platforms have been named ES and EM, and they are designed in a ‘skateboard’ style, which means they can be stretched and adapted. As the teaser image suggests, this means there can be a small, medium and large van off the two platforms. There is also a tantalising smaller vehicle, which looks to be similar in size and style to the Citroen Ami. More will be revealed at CES in January 2024 (below).

The medium van is expected to be the first to be made, which makes sense given the relative importance of this sector of the market. This means that Kia is taking on the likes of the Ford Transit Custom. The diesel version has already launched, but the electric-only Ford E-Transit Custom won’t arrive until later in 2024.

We won’t see the first Kia electric van until a little after that, with 2025 the date that Kia is aiming for at the moment.

Will there be other models?
We’re entering firmly into the realms of speculation here, but it would be strange for Kia to launch three electric vans and call a halt to proceedings at that point. There are myriad options open to them, which could include a people-carrying version. Several brands have launched or shown large luxury minibuses of late, with the Lexus LM and the LEVC L380 both recent examples.

Kia sources have said that the larger van would be aimed at the logistics, fresh food delivery and multi-seat passenger markets, which would require more than a simple panel van.

There could also be scope for an electric pickup – there have been hints around such a model, but nothing more concrete than that. This would take Kia into a rare market, as there is only the Maxus T90 EV in the UK as things stand.