The PV5 Cargo marks the debut model in Kia’s ‘Platform Beyond Vehicle’ (PBV) strategy, which focuses on purpose-built electric commercial vehicles. The PBV lineup is designed around a new, dedicated platform—E-GMP.S—separate from Kia’s passenger vehicle EV architecture, and tailored specifically to meet the needs of urban logistics, delivery services, and ride-hailing operations.
Unveiled alongside three other concept models at the IAA Transportation 2024 event, the 4.7-metre-long PV5 is roughly the same length as the Volkswagen ID. Buzz with a standard wheelbase.
Unlike many commercial EVs that are adapted from combustion-engine designs, the PV5 is built from the ground up as a battery electric vehicle. This approach allows for more efficient packaging, improved payload capabilities, and broader flexibility in variants.
While the ID. Buzz Cargo, for example, is constrained by its car-based MEB platform and offers a payload of only 500 kg, the PV5 benefits from a light-commercial-specific chassis. Kia says the PBV range will be modular and expandable, allowing for different body styles including crew vans and chassis cabs, with additional variants expected to follow in 2026.
In the UK, Kia is accepting pre-orders for the PV5 Cargo in the base ‘Essential’ trim, starting at £27,645 (net of VAT) for the 51.5 kWh standard-range battery. A long-range variant with a 71.2 kWh battery is also available from £30,145. The PV5 Passenger version, also in Essential trim, is priced at £32,995. Compared to competitors like the Volkswagen ID. Buzz Cargo, which starts at £31,380 and features a larger 79 kWh battery, the PV5 comes at a lower entry price but with more modest performance specs.
Kia confirmed that customer deliveries for the PV5 Cargo will begin in late 2025. Additional configurations such as the PV5 Crew and Chassis Cab will be priced and announced later this year. A smaller 43.3 kWh LFP battery variant—designed for fleet operators with limited range needs—will be introduced at a later stage, though it will be exclusive to the Cargo version.
The PV5 features a 400-volt electrical architecture with a maximum DC fast-charging rate of 150 kW. According to Kia, both the standard-range and long-range batteries can be charged from 10% to 80% in under 30 minutes when connected to a 150 kW charger. This positions the PV5 as a practical and cost-effective solution for businesses seeking to electrify their operations without sacrificing flexibility or affordability.