Kia’s first electric van makes a big splash in its European debut

Delivery vans represent an excellent use case for EVs, and they’re an increasingly common sight on European streets.

Kia and sister company Hyundai are two of the most forward-looking of the legacy automakers, but they haven’t been much of a factor in the commercial van market—until now.

As Joris Van Roy reports in New Mobility News, Kia’s first electric van has become an instant hit in Europe, outselling models from manufacturers with decades of history in the segment.

According to Kia, since going on sale in Europe, the new PV5 Cargo has become the best-selling battery-electric small (C-segment) van in 12 countries. In the UK, Kia registered 3,239 PV5 Cargo vans and 1,141 Passenger models during the first seven months of 2026, making it the country’s best-selling electric van.

Competitors Mercedes-Benz, Renault, Ford, Peugeot, Citroën, Opel and Volkswagen already have large dealer networks, fleet contracts, and generations of experience with commercial customers. What’s Kia’s secret sauce?

Well, it might just be the fact that its small van is a purpose-built EV, rather than a conversion of a legacy vehicle. Built on Kia’s dedicated E-GMP.S platform, the PV5 Cargo features an under-floor battery pack, which gives it 4.4 cubic meters of space, room for two Euro pallets, and a loading sill only 419 millimeters high.

The long-range version sports a 71.2 kWh battery pack that delivers 416 kilometers of WLTP range—superior to that of the Mercedes eCitan (283 km), the Renault Kangoo Van E-Tech (308 km) the Ford E-Transit Courier (334 km) and the Opel Combo Electric (which is related to the Peugeot E-Partner and Citroën ë-Berlingo, and offers up to 343 km).

As Mr. Van Roy notes, the Kia tends to be a bit more expensive than competing models, notably offerings from Renault and the Stellantis brands. In Belgium, the PV5 Cargo starts at roughly €32,425 (plus VAT). Buyers seem to be willing to pay a bit more for the PV5’s combination of range, usable space, charging speed and equipment.

Kia’s PV5 is currently available in Cargo, Passenger and Chassis Cab versions, and the company plans to release more than 40 PBV body types, including the larger PV7 (due in 2027) and the PV9 (2029).

Source: New Mobility News