Kia has begun development on an entry-level EV2 city hatchback that will go on sale in 2026. The model will first be available in Europe, followed by other markets. The new vehicle, which was announced during the company's first EV Day event in Seoul, South Korea, will join the EV3 small SUV, EV4 saloon, and EV5 family SUV, all of which will be on sale within the next three years.
- The EV2 will be the smallest Kia EV when it debuts.
- Will be constructed in Slovakia
- In the future, the Kia EV1 will follow the EV2.
Kia EV2 will be built on the e-GMP born-EV platform.
The Kia EV2, as well as the EV3, EV4, and EV5, will join Kia's existing EV6 and flagship EV9 in the company's global lineup of born-electric vehicles based on Hyundai Motor Group's E-GMP platform. They will be critical to the company's goal of selling 1.6 million EVs per year by 2030.
It will be designed with the European market in mind and produced at Kia's plant in Slovakia. The manufacturing version of the EV3 will go on sale next year, with the EV5 following in 2025. The EV4 will be released in 2026, along with the smaller EV2.
The European focus and nomenclature hint that it is most likely a tiny B-segment machine. That may point to a hatchback, but considering the popularity of SUVs and Kia's focus on them in its EV lineup thus far, it's more likely to have tough crossover design characteristics.
Kia has not revealed any technical details, although it will be built on the same E-GMP platform as the other specialized EV cars. That means it might feature single- and twin-motor powertrains, however given the packing challenges of a smaller car and the more urban-focused driving of expected purchasers, a twin-motor setup is unlikely.
The EV3, EV4, and EV5 will all employ a new version of the E-GMP modular design that runs at 400V, in part to keep costs low, and this version is also expected to be used for the EV2. As a result, it would be incapable of ultra-fast charging, however this is unlikely to be a key demand for family buyers traveling modest distances.
Performance-oriented GT version
Notably, the EV2 will receive a hot GT version: the company previously stated that it will provide a performance-driven GT variation of every model in its EV lineup, and an executive confirmed to Autocar UK that this was still the aim, citing the appeal of performance cars among European purchasers.
Kia EV line-up in India
Kia now sells the EV6 in India, while the EV9 flagship is set to arrive next year. By 2025, a mass-market EV vehicle from the brand, most likely a Carens EV, will be available in India.