ia’s fully electric PV5 has been awarded the 2026 International Van of the Year (IVOTY), marking the first time a Korean vehicle has received the global light commercial vehicle honour. The decision was unanimous among 26 commercial vehicle journalists who announced the winner at the SOLUTRANS 2025 exhibition in Lyon, France.
The PV5, introduced earlier this year as part of Kia’s new Platform Beyond Vehicle (PBV) strategy, outperformed six other finalists to secure the title. Kia CEO Ho Sung Song called the recognition “an exceptional honor,” adding that the achievement reflects the potential of fully electric commercial vehicles and the brand’s ambition to “redefine the segment.”
The award further highlights Kia’s growing EV push in the commercial sector. The PV5 lineup currently includes Passenger 5-seater and Cargo Long models available in Europe and South Korea. A newly unveiled Chassis Cab variant made its debut at SOLUTRANS, with Kia planning to expand the range in 2026 to include Cargo Standard (L1H1) and High Roof (L2H2) versions. The company previewed seven PV5 body types earlier in the year, including a light camper, refrigerated truck, luxury passenger model, and open-bed configuration.
Kia intends to broaden its PBV portfolio with the larger PV7 in 2027, followed later by the PV9. All PBV models are built on the modular E-GMP.S platform, designed to support a wide variety of commercial applications.
The PV5 Cargo Long Range also set a Guinness World Record in September for the longest distance driven by a light-duty electric van at maximum payload on a single charge. Equipped with a 71.2 kWh battery and carrying 665 kg, the van covered 693.38 km (430.84 miles) without recharging.
Production of the PV5 takes place at Kia’s dedicated EVO facility in Hwaseong, South Korea, where the automaker recently opened its first PV5 manufacturing hub. Once completed, the site will span the equivalent of 42 soccer fields and support annual output of up to 250,000 units.