Kia is following up a robust 12 months for its passenger EVs by sharing what it needs to do for companies trying to go electrical. The Korean automaker simply unveiled at CES 2024 a forthcoming lineup of electrical vans, vans, ride-hailing and last-mile supply autos all set to be constructed on a brand new modular platform.

And it seems to have already got its first buyer. The corporate introduced in the course of the Monday press convention that’s has fashioned a worldwide partnership with Uber, in accordance with Pierre-Martin Bos, vp of Kia’s new so-called PVB enterprise division.

Not solely will the underlying electrical powertrain be modular — just like different skateboard-style designs which have turn out to be standard throughout the business — however the tops of those autos might be as effectively. What that appears like in observe, in accordance with Kia, are autos with fastened driver cabs that may have the remainder of the car’s cabin swapped out.

Kia PBV Idea Lineup. Picture Credit: Kia

These cabins (Kia calls them “life modules”) connect with the chassis utilizing each mechanical couplings and electromagnets, although Kia was mild on the small print about how that can work.

Kia was mild on specs, however mentioned it’s constructing a devoted plant to make them in South Korea that it claims might be operational in 2025. Kia expects an annual capability of 150,000 autos however mentioned that would develop to 300,000 globally.

Picture Credit: Kirsten Korosec

The primary mannequin to be made would be the Kia PV5, a three-row van with futuristic styling slated to hit the highway in 2025 at a price ticket of round $35,000. Kia additionally confirmed renders of a bigger model (the PV7) due in 2027 and a smaller, extra Sensible Automotive-sized possibility (the PV1). The corporate shared that it plans a robotaxi model might are available 2028, and that autos constructed on the platform might finally be accessible to common customers.

The look of the autos is pretty stark and utilitarian. None of them are remotely as cute as sibling firm Hyundai’s head-turning Staria van. Design-wise, they aren’t all that dissimilar from what struggling EV startup Canoo has spent the previous couple of years promising to supply at scale. Hyundai and Canoo had been as soon as concerned in a partnership that was abruptly known as off by the EV startup’s CEO, who made obscure allusions on the time about defending his firm’s IP.

This put up has been up to date with particulars from Kia’s CES 2024 press convention.