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Kia expects larger electric vans to outsell PV5, targets 250,000 by 2030

Electrek reports Kia CEO Ho-Sung Song expects the PV7 and PV9 to account for about 130,000 of a 250,000-unit purpose-built electric van goal by 2030, with PV7 sales planned for Korea and Europe in late 2027.

Updated Sep 17, 2026 · 16:38 UTC1 reports

The short version

  • Kia aims to sell 250,000 purpose-built electric vans by 2030, with CEO Ho-Sung Song expecting about 120,000 PV5 units and about 130,000 PV7 and PV9 units combined, Electrek reports.[Electrek]
  • Song unveiled the PV7 at IAA Transportation and said Kia is negotiating with more than 300 companies, with about 4,000 units on standby and over 17,000 under negotiation.[Electrek]
  • Kia has contracts for around 400 PV7 vans with Bravida and over 300 units each from Motability and Kone, according to the report.[Electrek]
  • The PV7 is scheduled to go on sale in Korea and Europe in the second half of 2027, and Song said Kia is not currently targeting the US because of long driving distances.[Electrek]

Key facts

  • Kia targets 250,000 purpose-built electric van sales by 2030; CEO Ho-Sung Song expects about 120,000 PV5 units and about 130,000 PV7 and PV9 units combined.[Electrek]
  • Kia’s original 2030 PBV target, announced at its 2024 CEO Investor Day, was 150,000 PV5 vans and 100,000 PV7 models.[Electrek]
  • Kia president and CEO Ho-Sung Song unveiled the PV7 for the first time at IAA Transportation on Monday.[Electrek]
  • Song said Kia was negotiating with more than 300 companies and had about 4,000 units on standby and more than 17,000 units under negotiation, including the PV5.[Electrek]
  • Kia secured contracts for around 400 PV7 vans with Bravida and over 300 units each from the UK’s Motability and Finnish elevator company Kone, the report said.[Electrek]
  • The PV5 became Europe’s top-selling small electric van in the C-segment with a 37% market share in the first half of 2026, according to the report.[Electrek]
  • The PV7 will go on sale in Korea and Europe in the second half of 2027, the report says.[Electrek]
  • Song said Kia was not currently targeting the US for the PV7 because long driving distances make electrifying delivery vehicles difficult, while Kia plans to launch it in the Middle East and Asia-Pacific.[Electrek]

What remains uncertain

  • Kia’s expectation that the PV7 and PV9 will outsell the PV5 is a company forecast, not a confirmed sales result.[Electrek]
  • The negotiation and fleet contract figures come from Song and are not independently verified in the report.[Electrek]
  • The report does not specify timing or sequence for planned PV7 launches in the Middle East and Asia-Pacific beyond the Korea and Europe launch in the second half of 2027.[Electrek]

Sources

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.