In the line of affordable EVs Kia will be the rival of Rivian and Tesla. Kia is set to launch two affordable EVs of its own at the end of year. Although Rivian and Tesla are making headlines with their planned expansions into mass-market electric vehicles.
Recent launch of Rivian R2 eclectic SUV on Thursday. This is a compact SUV with the size of 4,715 mm long, 1,700 mm tall with a wheelbase of 2,935. That makes it smaller than Rivian’s present R1S electric SUV. Also it is Rivian’s one of the most affordable EV’s that will start at $45,000, with all trims boasting over 300 miles range.
But it’s big plan Kia aims to enter the mass market with more affordable EVs. Brands recent success with its first three-row EV9 electric SUV. The company has sold about 2,729 EV9 models in the US, last two months.
Now Kia has revealed the EV3 and EV4 concepts during its first annual EV Day in October. And said one of them will come in the last months of the year. These new EVs are part of Kia’s wide-ranging electric car lineup. However Kia has already launched its compact EV5 electric SUV in China with starting prices around $20,000.
Kia’s EV3 Concept
It is said that EV3 is expected to be the lowest-priced model of the company. It will start around the price tag of $30,000. Kia’s entry-level EV3 represents the brand’s vision of an all-electric compact crossover. Although EV3 takes it’s design, tech and other features from the EV9 but it’s into a smaller and more affordable package.
Further it is expected that Kia will launch the EV3 this year, if not by the end of year or early 2025. If this happens, it will be the rival of Rivian’s R2 (2026) and Tesla’s next-gen EVs, which are expected to come late in 2025.
Kia’s EV4 Concept
Talking about EV4 Kia describes it as an entry level sedan that comes with an “entirely new type of sedan that stands as a symbol of innovation.” EV4 will be Kia’s entry-level electric sedan. That will come with the price tag starting around $35,000.
However the EV4 was also expected to launch by the end of 2024, local media reports claimed Kia VP Woo-Jeong Joo said it would be pushed back to early 2025. Kia’s leader said the move was to launch the models sequentially for maximum success.