At least one Kia EV model will be revealed at next week's LA Auto Show. Kia teased the new EV ahead of the event, saying they wanted to make it “very clear” that the company is leading the way in the US.
After breaking its US sales record for October last month, Kia said the new models are “generating significant foot traffic” in showrooms.
The company expects the momentum to continue with a series of new models to be unveiled next week at the 2024 LA Auto Show. Kia will introduce five new vehicles across ICE, HEV, PHEV, and EV powertrains.
Kia's new models will feature the latest design theme, shown on next-generation EV models such as the three-row EV9 and the compact EV3 electric SUV.
“Since five vehicles will be introduced at the Los Angeles Auto Show next week, we want to make it clear that Kia is leading the way in all areas,” said EVP and COO of Kia America, Steven Center, on Thursday.
Center said Kia will be pulling the sheets on some of its most important models for now and believes “our customers will be excited about what's coming to our showrooms very soon.”
What EV model is Kia teasing for its big US debut?
So, which EV will Kia debut in the US market? It will probably be a small EV3 electric SUV. Kia launched the EV3 in Korea this summer, starting at around $30,000 (KRW 42.08 million). Earlier this week, Kia said the compact electric SUV is now available in Europe and has a “segment-leading” range of up to 375 miles.
In Europe, the EV3 starts at around 36,000 euros ($38,000), while prices in the UK (where it has been on sale since August) start at £32,995 ($42,000).
Kia's vice president, Jeong Won-Jeong, is already calling the small electric SUV a “game changer” in Korea, with strong demand for a low-cost EV model.
Will it have the same effect in the US? At 4,300 mm long, 1,850 mm wide, and 1,560 mm tall, the EV3 is roughly the same size as the Chevy Bolt EUV (4,306 mm long x 1,770 mm wide x 1,616 mm x tall).
The Bolt has been GM's best-selling EV for the past few years until the company ends production at the end of 2023.
GM announced that it sold its 300,000th EV in the US last month since 2016. More than 212,000 of them were Bolt EV models. According to GM president Mark Reuss, the new model will be released next year as part of the “Bolts family.”
The 2024 Chevy Bolt EUV started at $27,800. Can Kia match (or lower) the price? Kia is expected to build the EV3 in Mexico to take advantage of the US EV tax credit. With prices expected to start between $30,000 and $40,000, the tax credit could bring the price tag down to around $22,500 and $32,500.
The US-spec Kia EV3 was spotted in California earlier this year testing on public roads, and is expected to make its debut soon.
Next year, Kia will introduce the EV4, its entry-level electric sedan. The company promises it will be “a completely new type of EV sedan.”
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