TechnologySeptember 14, 2026

Kia unveils the larger E-Transporter PV7 with 800-volt technology

Kia unveiled the PV7 at the IAA Transportation. Compared to the PV5, this second model in Kia’s PBV strategy not only grows in size, cargo capacity, and battery energy storage but also adopts 800-volt technology. The PV7 is set to hit the European market in the second half of 2027.

Image: Kia

Kia’s intention to enter the light commercial vehicle market has been clear since the launch of its “Platform Beyond Vehicle” (PBV) strategy at the beginning of 2024. The first model in this series was the small electric transporter PV5, available either as a Passenger version (as shown in our test report) for carrying people or as a Cargo version for transporting goods.

With the PV7, Kia is now elevating itself by one class in the segment of electric light commercial vehicles. Kia itself distinguishes between the two models conceptually as follows: while the PV5 relies on the so-called “Open Box” concept, which is primarily designed for flexibility in urban use, the PV7 adopts a “Tool Box” approach. This larger truck was developed to offer more cargo space and payload capacity for more demanding applications and larger-scale uses.

Significantly larger than the PV5

Like the PV5, the PV7 is not based on the well-known E-GMP passenger car platform but rather on the new E-GMP.S (“Electric Global Modular Platform for Service”), which is specifically tailored for commercial applications.

The common foundation should not obscure the fact that the two models compete in different vehicle classes. The long version of the PV7 measures 5.35 meters in length, 1.995 meters in width, and 1.99 meters in height. The wheelbase is 3.50 meters. For comparison, the long PV5 L2 is 4.67 meters long with a wheelbase of three meters. Although a shorter standard version of the PV7 has been announced, South Korea has not yet disclosed its dimensions or cargo volume.

Two batteries, front-wheel drive as a starting point

Depending on the market and configuration, the standard front-wheel-drive model delivers up to 200 kW of power and 420 Nm of torque. A four-wheel-drive version is expected to follow later. The powertrains are intended to be paired with two batteries using NMC cell technology, with energy capacities of 71.5 and 96.2 kWh respectively. For the PV7 Cargo with the larger battery, Kia claims a range of around 460 kilometers, based on internal WLTP-standard measurements — official homologation has not yet been obtained. In the international version of the announcement, Kia states a range of over 460 kilometers in the same section.

The battery capacity of the PV5 ranges from 43.3 to 71.2 kWh. The versions with 51.5 and 71.2 kWh deliver 89 kW and 120 kW respectively, along with 250 Nm of torque each, while the 43.3-kWh version outputs 111 kW. For the PV5 Cargo, the maximum range according to WLTP is 416 kilometers with the largest battery.

Image: Kia

1/11
2/11
3/11
4/11
5/11
6/11
7/11
8/11
9/11
10/11
11/11

800 volts instead of 400 volts

Another difference lies in the charging technology. The smaller pickup uses 400 volts, with all three batteries requiring about 30 minutes to charge from 10 percent to 80 percent. The PV7 employs an 800-volt architecture and is said to be able to charge from 10 percent to 80 percent in around 25 minutes at a 350-kW charging station. Kia does not specify whether this time frame applies to both battery sizes, nor does it provide information on the vehicle’s maximum DC charging capacity. There are also no details available regarding AC charging performance yet.

A notable feature is the two charging ports: a combined AC/DC port is located at the front, with an optional additional AC port available at the rear. According to Kia, the PV7 is the first electric vehicle in the brand’s lineup to feature this solution, designed to save space in tight parking lots and at street charging stations. The vehicle also provides 230-volt outlets both inside and outside via the V2L function.

Up to eight cubic meters and 1.2 tons of payload capacity

The increased external dimensions are most noticeable in the cargo version. The long version with a standard high roof has a cargo volume of up to 6.1 cubic meters per VDA standards, providing space for up to three Euro pallets. The high-roof version is said to offer a volume of up to 8.0 cubic meters. For comparison, the PV5 Cargo L2H1 has a cargo volume of 4.42 cubic meters, while the already announced PV5 L2H2 with a high roof has over five cubic meters. The shorter PV5 version, L1H1, has a cargo volume of 4.03 cubic meters.

The increase is equally significant when it comes to payload capacity. Kia specifies a maximum of 1,165 kilograms for the long version of the PV7 Cargo and 1,200 kilograms for the shorter standard version. For the PV5 Cargo, the payload ranges from 605 to 800 kilograms depending on the body style, battery, and equipment options — with the shortest variant equipped with a standard 51.5-kWh battery achieving the highest value, while the long version with a larger battery and full equipment sits at the lower end. Compared to the respective maximum values, the PV7 offers a 50 percent increase. Kia has not yet disclosed the allowable total weight — it is 2,650 kilograms for the PV5 Cargo.

The loading height is 550 millimeters, which is significantly higher than that of the PV5, where Kia specifies 399 millimeters on the sides and 419 millimeters at the rear. Kia’s marketing claims about a low loading height therefore refer to larger vehicle classes, not its own model lineup. For heavy loads, there is a driving mode that adjusts the vehicle’s controls to the payload. The Cargo is available with two or three seats. At the rear, customers can choose between a double-door and a liftgate. A partition with loading capability is reserved for the three-seater version.

Nine Seats in the Passenger

The PV7 Passenger was developed for employee transport, shuttle and rental services, tourism purposes, as well as family use. In Europe, the model is expected to be available with up to nine seats, while in Korea it may even have eleven seats.

The seven-seater is expected to feature seats that can slide and be removed along long rails, while the nine-seater will be available with or without a fourth row of seats. By doing this, Kia positions the PV7 above the PV5 in terms of passenger capacity, as the PV5’s passenger versions in this market are limited to up to seven seats.

Image: Kia

In the cockpit, the infotainment system Pleos Connect based on Android Automotive OS features an open app marketplace, over-the-air updates, and the voice assistant Gleo AI. It is paired with 12.9-inch and 14.6-inch displays. For commercial customers, Kia offers Business Solutions, which includes a fleet management system, interfaces for connected vehicle data, and uptime services for predictive diagnosis and maintenance.

Modular body design for 23 variants

In the long term, the PV7 lineup is set to expand to a total of 23 variants. These include three cargo versions as standard, long, and high-roof editions, two passenger variants, a chassis cab, and various modified models. This diversity is made possible by the Flexible Body System (FBS), a modular body architecture that allows for the development of different body types, derivatives, and modified versions based on a standardized vehicle structure.

At their booth in Hannover, the South Koreans initially display only three variants of the PV7 – a long version of the PV7 Passenger and two long versions of the PV7 Cargo. However, Kia does not have the mentioned roof-top version nor the standard version, which has only been announced so far. Prices for the PV7 have not yet been released. Kia also plans to disclose the final technical specifications for the German market closer to the launch date.

In addition to the PV5 and PV7, the model lineup is set to expand further upward. The next member of the PBV family, the even larger PV9, has already been announced for 2029.

_Source: Information via email_, kia.com