- Kia enters the Japanese market with the PV5, concentrating on the fast-growing EV van demand pushed by Japan’s carbon neutrality targets, and increasing its PBV enterprise right into a strategically necessary market
- Kia strengthens its place as a number one world EV model with the PV5 Cargo Lengthy-range mannequin, providing an industry-leading driving vary of as much as 528 km
- ‘Kia PBV Japan’, established by way of a partnership with Sojitz Group, plans to launch 8 sellers and 100 service facilities nationwide in its first yr, with additional enlargement forward, whereas collaborating with native charging companions to construct a complete charging community.
- Kia model house highlights its ‘10 materials options’, reflecting the model’s imaginative and prescient as a Sustainable Mobility Options Supplier
Kia Company is making its entry into the Japanese automotive market by taking part within the Japan Mobility Present 2025. On the occasion, held in Tokyo from October 29 to November 9, Kia will unveil its first PBV (Platform Past Car) mannequin, the PV5, marking a big milestone within the model’s world enlargement technique.
Kia’s participation within the Japan Mobility Present marks a daring new chapter for its PBV enterprise, following the worldwide unveiling of its PBV on the 2025 Kia EV Day. With gross sales already underway in Korea and Europe, Kia now units its sights on Japan as the subsequent strategic marketplace for enlargement.
Kia’s debut in Japan is backed by a strategic collaboration with Sojitz Group, a diversified Japanese company engaged in world companies throughout automotive, infrastructure, power, and client companies.
Kia’s strategic partnership with Sojitz Group introduces a daring new imaginative and prescient for sustainable, user-centric mobility in Japan. As a part of this collaboration, Kia has launched ‘Kia PBV Japan’, a Sojitz-run gross sales subsidiary that can oversee Kia’s PBV technique within the Japanese market. Via the partnership with Sojitz, Kia goals to determine eight sellers and 100 service facilities nationwide in its first yr.
Sojitz and Kia share the frequent imaginative and prescient: mobility ought to transcend transportation to assist handle social challenges and defend the planet. This shared perception laid the muse for his or her partnership, aiming to speed up Japan’s transition to a carbon-neutral society by way of Kia’s PBV improvements. The collaboration can even apply Kia’s confirmed PBV enterprise mannequin to determine a localized PBV ecosystem, collaborating intently with key Japanese companions and main infrastructure growth efforts.
Sangdae Kim, Govt Vice President and Head of PBV Division at Kia, mentioned: “The PV5 isn’t just a automobile — it’s a mobility platform designed to satisfy the various wants of shoppers in Japan. Via our partnership with Sojitz Group, we goal to ship significant options that assist folks, empower companies, and strengthen native communities, supported by a strong basis of gross sales, service, and charging infrastructure. Kia PBV is dedicated to rising along with Japan as a trusted associate — one listens, learns, and delivers lasting worth.”
Full flexibility to satisfy diverse buyer wants
As a worldwide EV chief, Kia is coming into the Japanese market with a centered PBV technique that underscores the corporate’s long-term dedication to sustainable innovation.
On the Japan Mobility Present 2025, Kia is showcasing its first devoted PBV mannequin, the PV5, in a devoted model zone. The model will current numerous PV5 variants tailor-made to satisfy the distinctive wants of the Japanese market, which is at the moment going through social challenges similar to an getting older inhabitants, labor shortages, regional depopulation, and logistics pressure.
The PV5 embodies innovation throughout three key dimensions – {hardware}, software program, and manufacturing – enabling Kia to ship versatile, environment friendly, and future-ready mobility options that handle these urgent challenges.
Kia PBV fashions tailor-made for the Japanese market embrace the PV5 Cargo mannequin, which integrates a variety of options, together with:
- Versatile storage for final in-car flexibility
- A compact 5.5-meter turning radius, making it extremely sensible for supply companies and small companies working in Japan’s slender metropolis streets
- Environment friendly driving with vary of as much as 528 km (WLTC with 71.2 kWh battery), supporting on a regular basis mobility with fewer charging stops[1]
- Beneficiant load capability to assist logistics and retail operations
- Twin-swing tailgate, making loading and unloading simpler in tight parking areas
- PBV-dedicated 12.9-inch infotainment system, leveraging Fleet Administration System (FMS) for seamless enterprise operations through app connectivity and OTA updates
- Superior Driver Help Programs to additional improve security and effectivity in city environments
The PV5 Passenger mannequin is designed with on a regular basis mobility in thoughts and options considerate design touches to make life with the automobile simpler for customers. These embrace:
- Low 399 mm step top and extensive door openings to offer secure and comfy entry for all passengers – significantly older folks, supporting group transport companies in addition to household use
- Lengthy vary of as much as 521 km (WLTC with 71.2 kWh battery), enabling extra handy driving for long-distance journeys[2]
- Versatile Fold seating system, permitting the cabin to be configured for passengers or cargo
- Kia AddGear modular system, enabling customization for way of life wants, from mobility aids to leisure gear
- Exterior and inside V2L energy provide, which make the Kia PV5 effectively suited to Japan’s adventurous tenting and leisure tradition, permitting customers to energy gadgets instantly from the automobile
Kia’s PV5 WAV (Wheelchair Accessible Car) has been developed with enter from mobility-impaired customers and options:
- A gently sloped side-entry ramp and low ground for improved accessibility
- Common securing methods for secure transport of wheelchair customers
The PV5 WAV instantly addresses the growing demand for accessible full-electric transport, guaranteeing that older or mobility-impaired customers can proceed to get pleasure from sustainable and versatile transport.
Devoted platform and impressive future mannequin development technique
Kia’s PV5 is constructed on the devoted Electrical-International Modular Platform for Service (E-GMP.S). Because of the automobile’s Versatile Physique System, Kia’s PV5 will be configured in as much as 16 totally different variants., providing distinctive versatility. This innovation is enabled by Kia’s eco-friendly PBV EVO Plant, which makes use of a hybrid manufacturing system that mixes the adaptability of cell-based manufacturing with the effectivity of a conveyor system. Collectively, these applied sciences mirror Kia’s long-term dedication to scalable, software-defined electrical mobility for a sustainable future.
With the corporate’s entry into the Japanese market, Kia’s model zone has been designed to bolster belief amongst Japanese clients by showcasing Kia’s world management in electrification and speaking its model imaginative and prescient as a Sustainable Mobility Options Supplier.
The model zone additionally highlights 10 materials options, the Kia AddGear platform, and an exterior shade chip wall, permitting guests to expertise Kia’s strategy to design, customization, and sustainable innovation.
Kia’s PV5 variants, together with Passenger and Cargo fashions, are scheduled to go on sale in Japan beginning within the first half of 2026. Mass manufacturing of the preliminary PV5 Passenger and PV5 Cargo Lengthy fashions commenced this summer time, with further variants set to comply with. Kia plans to broaden its PBV lineup, with the introduction of PV7 in 2027, providing bigger fashions to satisfy a broader vary of enterprise and way of life wants.
