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11 new electric cars in five years.
Kia is putting in another gear to strengthen its leadership position in the Swedish electric car market.
Pure electric cars are the future and we will continue to develop models for different customer needs, says David Lilja, press and communications manager at Kia Motors Sweden.
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Kia invested from the beginning in electrifying as many models as possible and for two years has been the market leader in Sweden for rechargeable cars. More than half (58 percent) of the cars sold between January and November this year were rechargeable. And next year, the goal is for that figure to be 80 percent.
– It may sound offensive, but we must manage and develop the position we have taken. Our products are appreciated by customers and now we are further developing the model range and our offering. In addition, more and more people are discovering the benefits of the electric car; which gives less climate impact, can be good for the economy and also fun to drive, says David Lilja.
Focus on clean electric cars
Today, Kia has five plug-in hybrids in the portfolio: Kia Ceed SW, Kia Optima SW, Kia Niro, Kia XCeed and the latest addition Kia Sorento, which can now be ordered with delivery in the first quarter of 2021. Kia also offers two cars pure electrics: Kia e-Niro and Kia e-Soul.
When Kia now takes the next step in electrified development, it is with a heavy focus on clean electric cars.
By 2025, there will be 11 in the range (including existing electric car models), of which the majority of these will be dedicated electric cars.
– The electric cars we offer today have been developed based on the fact that they previously ran on fossil fuels; diesel or gasoline. A dedicated electric car is built from the ground up to be just an electric car, explains David Lilja.
What are the benefits?
– Above all, the car can be designed based on the fact that there is no need for space for a large internal combustion engine. Instead, the battery can be integrated into the motherboard, creating larger interior spaces and better driving characteristics.
Will there be a price difference for the customer?
– The idea is to be able to create several models from the same platform, which provides economies of scale and more efficient production. So yes, ultimately, it should offer the customer an even more attractive price, says David Lilja.
One platform, many solutions
Next year, Kia will launch the first dedicated electric car that so far has the internal CV designation. Thanks to innovative technology, the model gets high-performance driving and charging characteristics. Furthermore, a new design direction is introduced that will symbolize the brand’s transition to an electric car brand.
And that Kia has a long-term strategy when it comes to electric cars, it is shown above all in the recently developed technical platform E-GMP (Electric Global Modular Platform). It becomes adaptable to different needs; city cars, cars optimized for long-range and performance models.
– Based on the same platform, we can create different types of cars. Historically, Kia has been good at starting with different customer needs in new car development, we will continue to do so, says David Lilja.
In addition to a full range of electric car models, Kia is also establishing a number of new collaborations in electric vehicles, mobility services and with other automakers. Among other things, Kia is part of the alliance for the IONITY fast charging network.
– Expansion of the charging infrastructure is a prerequisite for electric cars to be available to more people. We want many, not just a few, to be able to drive rechargeable cars and then it is important to remove all the thresholds that exist, says David Lilja.
More on Kia’s electric cars of the future
