Kia’s semi-medium-sized electric SUV EV5 may not be sold in the U.S-market according to the latest report from Korean media.
Kia President Song Ho-sung has said the EV5 will be released into the North American market in mid-2025, but internal sources say it will not be sold in the U.S after all, it will be available only in the Canadian and Mexican markets.
U.S Media says that customers are more likely to opt for a third-row model, such as the EV9 or the future EV7. There is a good example for KIA, the case of the two-row mid-size crossover Honda Passport, which is suffering of disappointing sales in the U.S. market. The EV5 is also expected to be affected by the lack of the $7,500 tax-deduction benefit, as the EV5 is not going to be produced in the U.S.
“It looks pretty cool in practice with the same E-GMP architecture as the EV6 and EV9, and it looks pretty cool in the future-oriented design. I hope the Aero Wheels will also be produced.” said Autoblog editor.
The unique bench-style front seat was controversial when it first appeared in China last August, and the design was at first specialized for the Chinese market, while the rest of the overseas markets and South Korea will feature traditional two-seater seats. Unlike the EV6 and EV9, the powertrain uses a 400V architecture, and 350kW DC fast charging.
For that version, on the other hand, it is analyzed that it will help with reasonable pricing by increasing efficiency in the cost section. The standard model will have a 58 kWh battery and a long-range model with an 88 kWh battery, and the mileage of each model will be expected to meet market demand.
