- Motability Operations and Kia signal MOU to boost accessible mobility and advance electrification of Wheelchair Accessible Automobiles
- Kia PV5 and its WAV variant can be launched within the UK underneath the Motability Scheme in first half of 2026, adopted by the launch of PV5 WAV later within the yr
- Strategic partnership to spice up Kia PBV’s high quality, marketability, and manufacturing effectivity enhancing the power to transform autos for wheelchair entry
- The events will discover sensible charging options and vitality administration applied sciences, together with Automobile-to-Residence and Automobile-to-Grid methods
Kia Company (Kia) and Motability Operations Restricted, the corporate which runs the Motability Scheme within the UK, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), reaffirming their mutual dedication in direction of electrification and enhancing private mobility by way of take care of the setting.
The important thing goal of this collaboration is to convey to market an reasonably priced, absolutely electrical, side-entry Wheelchair Accessible Automobile (WAV), whereas advancing inclusive mobility by way of Kia’s Platform Past Automobile (PBV) lineup to satisfy the accessibility and electrification wants of all people.
The WAV can be designed, constructed and bought by Kia, and primarily based on its PBV structure. Motability Operations will assist the event course of by offering buyer insights into the UK WAV market. The partnership goals to make sure disabled those who want WAVs can have extra reasonably priced choices to select from, whether or not autos are in-built plant or transformed by specialists.
Kia’s first PBV mannequin, the PV5, can be launched as a passenger automobile within the UK market underneath the Motability Scheme, with domestically transformed WAV variants out there in first half of 2026. The PV5 WAV is predicted to enter the market in late 2026.
By means of this strategic collaboration, Kia goals to boost the standard and marketability of its PBV lineup, starting with PV5 and lengthening to future fashions equivalent to PV7, and potential WAVs produced instantly at Kia’s manufacturing services.
“There isn’t any higher demonstration of the dedication in direction of Kia’s imaginative and prescient of ‘Sustainable Mobility Options Supplier’ than the progressive independence that the PV5 WAV provides to these dealing with mobility challenges,” mentioned President Ho Sung Tune. “The signing of this MOU with Motability Operations reinforces our dedication to main a future the place ‘Mobility for All’ is each sustainable and a fundamental human proper.”
“The eVITA idea was constructed to create a dialog about inclusive design. This new MoU with Kia exhibits that imaginative and prescient is turning into a actuality, with manufacturing unit and conversion eWAVs which might be constructed with accessibility in thoughts from the start.,” mentioned Andrew Miller, CEO of Motability Operations.
“By sharing our buyer and WAV market perception with Kia’s design groups, we’re taking the subsequent step towards making a purpose-built electrical WAV. This collaboration helps our long-term targets and helps us take the subsequent step in making a purpose-built electrical WAV to guard disabled individuals’s mobility by way of the EV transition.”
Past the automobile itself, Kia and Motability Operations are exploring sensible charging options that permit prospects to robotically cost when tariffs are lowest, serving to cut back working prices which can profit all drivers. The partnership can even have a look at how applied sciences equivalent to Automobile-to-Residence (V2H) and Automobile-to-Grid (V2G) can additional cut back complete price of possession and assist the broader sustainability transition.
Kia’s PV5 WAV is designed to offer freedom of motion not just for wheelchair customers, however their households, caregivers and drivers as nicely. The automobile will allow customers to take pleasure in extra handy, comfy and accessible journey whereas seamlessly transitioning to electrical mobility. A side-entry system allows simple curb-side entry to boost security and comfort. It would additionally function a quick-use, 300kg-rated wheelchair entry ramp and a specifically developed wheelchair belt fastening system, whereas a third-row tip-up seat allows caregivers to help wheelchair passengers from the aspect.
The PV5 WAV side-entry variant can be manufactured fully at Kia’s Hwaseong EVO Plant in Korea, utilizing the corporate’s Made-In-Plant system. Your complete manufacturing course of has been designed to be ecologically sustainable and additional cut back boundaries of entry for many who want an accessible automobile. Past {hardware} improvements, the PV5 WAV can even combine essential functions for disabled individuals primarily based on the AAOS open software program platform.
This settlement builds on Motability Operations’ improvement of the eVITA idea eWAV, which was created to have interaction automotive producers about alternatives for accessible design because the business shifts to electrical.
Kia is the primary producer to make use of a few of these insights to introduce a completely electrical ‘made-in-plant’ Wheelchair Accessible Automobile to the market, step one in integrating wheelchair accessibility within the EV period.
