A yr after Kia unveiled its roadmap to sustainable mobility by 2030, the Hyundai-owned model has upped the ante. At the corporate’s 2023 CEO Investor Day Wednesday, Kia’s management mentioned the corporate goals to achieve KRW 160 trillion ($122 billion) in gross income by 2030.
The monetary aim is a part of a common replace of Kia’s future-focused technique, “Plan S,” which launched in 2020 and featured new branding. Wednesday’s replace additionally features a KRW 32 trillion ($24 million) funding into the automaker’s electrification technique, with 45% of that cash devoted to “future business areas.”
The funds ought to assist Kia nudge up its output up over the following few years. Kia up to date its world gross sales aim of 4 million models by 2030 to 4.3 million models, and its annual EV gross sales aim of 1.2 million models to 1.6 million models by 2030. That’ll be fairly the ramp from the place Kia is at present. The firm is focusing on 258,000 EV gross sales by 2023 and 1 million models by 2026, which might be 8% and 25% of all Kia gross sales, respectively. By subsequent yr, the corporate mentioned it is going to start working its first devoted EV manufacturing facility at Gwangmyeong.
Kia additionally mentioned it is going to launch 15 new EV fashions by 2027, which is yet one more mannequin than the corporate had promised final yr. One of these fashions is anticipated to be a purpose-built mid-sized SUV, which Kia is aiming to launch by 2025. For what goal it’s being constructed, Kia didn’t say.
The Korean automaker just lately revealed the most recent EV in its portfolio, the EV9 SUV, which is filled with tech and can go on sale in chosen markets within the second half of the yr.
All of Kia’s upcoming autos might be tech-focused, the corporate mentioned. By 2025, Kia mentioned all new fashions might be linked to the corporate’s “connected car data cloud,” which ought to allow over-the-air updates and permit prospects to personalize their autos.
The firm can also be promising to give attention to its model of superior driver help system (ADAS), AutoMode, which is debuting on the EV9. Kia is pushing its ADAS one step additional with HDP (Highway Driving Pilot), which it describes as a Level 3 autonomous driving expertise “that does not require human steering wheel control for certain road sections, such as highways,” and also will debut with the EV9 this yr.
As a part of its autonomy roadmap, Kia mentioned by subsequent yr, the corporate plans to make use of OTA updates to carry drivers extra “eye-off” or hands-free features, and in 2026, it’ll launch HDP2 that makes use of “high precision navigation.”
Purpose-built automobile enterprise
Alongside its first purpose-built SUV Kia goals to launch by 2025, the corporate has formally established a purpose-built automobile (PBV) enterprise construction, with a devoted lineup of autos for numerous industrial wants. The firm goals to develop an answer that may handle information, software program and charging for the PBVs.
Kia mentioned it believes the PBV unit might be considered one of its key future companies. As such, the corporate is constructing a devoted manufacturing facility in Hwaseong, which might be unveiled in 2025 and can construct medium-sized autos for a wide range of autos. The PBVs might be primarily based on a “flat skateboard-type platform, allowing the size and shape to be adjusted according” to a enterprise companion’s goal and wishes.
Kia will progressively develop its PBV lineup to incorporate a robotaxi, a small automobile for delivering items or meals, and a big automobile that may “replace public transportation or be used as a mobile office,” the corporate mentioned.