Kia UK has revealed its PBV commercial vehicle plans for the country including a dedicated brand-new dealer network to supply sales, after sales and servicing for Kia’s PBV products. The OEM’s UK branch also revealed specification and pricing details for its first fully electric PBV, the PV5.
At the height of Kia’s UK-focused strategy is a brand-new network of dedicated professional business van centers across the country. This new network will be launched with around 45 centers offering sales and after sales services, with Kia expecting this number to grow to 60 by the end of 2026. Each of these PBV Centres will be equipped with its own facilities and specialist resources aimed at supporting customers quickly and efficiently.
Kia confirmed that its first PBV centers will open for business from Q4 2025 to coincide with the first PV5 Cargo deliveries in the UK. In most cases, the new network will be with existing Kia partners who have experience of commercial vehicles with other brands. Further partner details and announcements will follow in the coming months.
While highlighting these new facilities, Kia UK also shared new details on its PV5 range – which includes the PV5 Cargo, Crew, Chassis Cab and Passenger models. The Cargo variant is built on Kia’s purpose-built E-GMP.S platform for commercial work across delivery, utilities, and ride hailing, and is available in two body lengths (with a high roof option available on the longer body). Its L2/H1 version offers a payload of up to 790 kg (1741 lb).
The variant’s choice of battery options, a standard range 51.5 kWh unit that offers up to 181 miles (291 km) of range on a single charge or a long range 71.2 kWh battery that offers up to 247 miles (397 miles). When driving, the efficiency of its architecture keeps the reduction of driving range while transporting a payload to a minimum. With 150kW DC, and 11kW AC, offered as standard across all PV5 variants, Kia estimates that rapid charging from 10% to 80% can take less than 30 minutes with either battery option.
In its L2/H1 configuration, the PV5 Cargo will be priced from £27,645 ($36,879 / €32,527) for the entry grade ‘Essential’ trim with standard range battery, or £30,145 ($40,214 / €35,468) with long range battery option. The PV5 Cargo also qualifies for the current OZEV (Office for Zero Emission Vehicles) Plug-in Van grant that reduces its price by £5,000 ($6,670 / €5,883).
The PV5 Passenger variant will likewise be priced from £32,995 ($44,016 / €38,822). A people-carrying version of the PV5, this variant will eventually be available in both 5- and 7-seat configurations (with only the 5-seat available at launch), offering a lifting tailgate and a range of up to 249 miles with the long-range battery.
At launch, all of Kia’s PV5 models will be available in L2/H1 form, while in 2026, the PV5 Cargo range will be expanded with a smaller L1/H1 or larger L2/H2 variant. Furthermore, a dedicated WAV (Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle) has been developed as an in-factory conversion, providing step-free access via a ramp and side door. More information on this version will follow in due course.
Every Kia PBV product will come with an industry-leading seven-year/100,000-mile warranty as standard. In addition, the PV5 offers an impressive servicing interval of every two years/20,000 miles, delivering further peace of mind. Pre-orders for both the PV5 Cargo and Passenger models have opened, and Kia expects the first UK customer deliveries to take place in Q4 2025.
Following the PV5, a larger commercial vehicle, the Kia PV7, is planned for 2027 while a PV9 is planned for 2029. To support these rollouts, Kia has invested around €3 billion (£2.5bn / $3.4bn) to build a brand new, state-of-the-art, Hwaseong EVO plant in South Korea, where it will build the PV5. Kia says that the plant can produce 150,000 units per year and, with it, is aiming to facilitate new commercial vehicle factory capabilities, enabling chassis cab conversions and custom livery paint to be completed on-site for example.
