Kia is said to have an EV7 and an H2-Carnival in development.
Kia appears to be planning an electric battery-powered EV7 and a hydrogen-powered van as part of the Carnival series available in certain markets. A South Korean website reports this based on an internal company document outlining production plans for the coming years.
Kia’s EV3 production in Gwangmyeong could soon see an increase.
Image: Kia
According to the Korean Car Blog, it possesses an internal document regarding Kia’s future plant assignments. Specifically, the document is said to originate from a committee at Kia responsible for job security. The report states that the document outlines production plans for Kia’s plants in Korea. From an eMobility perspective, two model lines stand out.
As per the Korean Car Blog, a mid-size E-SUV named the EV7 is set to be produced at Kia’s plant in Gwangju starting in 2028. Additionally, Kia plans to launch a hydrogen version of the Carnival van by 2029 at its plant in Gwangmyeong. If the H2-Carnival is indeed launched, it will be Kia’s first series-produced model with hydrogen propulsion.
There are no details available for these two models. Regarding the alleged EV7, it is only mentioned that it is expected to be of medium size and scheduled for production in Gwangju starting in 2028. However, this information aligns with reports that the group’s sister company, Hyundai, is also planning an Ioniq 7.
What about the Kia Carnival? Some might still remember it. This large SUV van from the South Korean automaker (sometimes also called the Kia Sedona) was available in our market during the 2000s before disappearing from the DACH region in 2010/2011. It has not returned to Europe since then, but continues to be available in new generations in South Korea, North America, and Russia.
The Korean Car Blog reports that the 2028 Carnival is set to launch in a new generation — with hybrid powertrains, and by 2029, it will also come with fuel cell powertrains. The latter is likely to adopt the fuel cell technology from the Hyundai Nexo. The next generation of Carnival is planned to be manufactured in Gwangmyeong.