Kia plans to move ahead with introducing its EV4 electric mid-size sedan to the U.S. market, even though the model will be imported from South Korea and therefore subject to a 25% tariff imposed under former President Donald Trump’s trade policy.
A Kia product planner confirmed to U.S. media that the EV4 sedan will be built exclusively in South Korea, while a hatchback version aimed at the European market will be assembled in Slovakia. “For now, we are planning to introduce only the sedan for North America,” the planner said.
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The decision means Kia’s EV4 will likely face headwinds in the U.S. sedan market, where it will compete with domestically built models such as the Tesla Model 3. The tariff, combined with the EV4’s ineligibility for the $7,500 U.S. federal tax credit, may make it more difficult to price the car competitively. Kia has yet to announce pricing for the U.S. market, and it remains unclear whether the company will absorb the tariff costs or pass them on to consumers.
Although Hyundai Motor Group — Kia’s parent company — operates manufacturing plants in the U.S., including one in Georgia where the larger EV9 is assembled, the automaker has opted not to produce the EV4 locally. Industry analysts suggest this may be a strategic decision to reserve U.S. production capacity for larger, higher-margin electric SUVs.
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First revealed earlier this year, the EV4 is based on the 400-volt version of the Hyundai-Kia E-GMP platform. The vehicle will be available with two battery options: a 58.3 kWh standard range and an 81.4 kWh long-range version. Kia estimates the long-range model can achieve up to 630 kilometers (WLTP), with a 150 kW motor powering the front axle in both variants.
Sales of the EV4 have already begun in South Korea, where pricing starts at around €26,500. While the EV4 may face hurdles entering the U.S. market, Kia’s move suggests it remains committed to expanding its EV lineup globally — even amid trade policy uncertainties.
Source: insideevs