Kia unveils PV5 cab chassis

Kia used the SOLUTRANS commercial vehicle trade show in Lyon, France, to officially present the cab chassis version of their PV5 electric light commercial vehicle. Already available in van form, adding a cab chassis variant will increase the applications for this EV, especially in urban areas.

Kia’s first fully electric vehicle of this type, the dedicated chassis cab variant of the PV5 marks the next step in the Korean carmaker’s Platform Beyond Vehicle (PBV) journey, combining electric performance, modular versatility and adaptability for professional customers.

Built on the same PBV-dedicated E-GMP.S (Electric-Global Modular Platform for Service) platform as the PV5 Cargo van, the PV5 cab chassis (referred to ‘Chassis Cab’ in Europe) offers up to 1,005kg of payload and up to eight cubic metres of cargo space with a High Box. This matches the capabilities of larger D-segment vans in Europe, while still retaining compact dimensions (sub-five-metre length) and a 5.5-metre turning radius for urban manoeuvrability.

“The launch of the PV5 Chassis Cab underscores our commitment to redefining what a light commercial vehicle can be,” said Marc Hedrich, President and CEO of Kia Europe. “It combines compact efficiency with the carrying capacity of larger vans to offer customers across Europe a responsible, flexible solution for daily operations.”

Maximising conversion simplicity through collaboration

Developed in collaboration with European converters, the PV5 cab chassis supports a full range of professional conversions, including a dropside tray for construction or farming equipment transport, a tipper for small-scale earthmoving and municipal waste collection, three types of box vans for e-commerce parcel logistics, and refrigerated vans for food transport and grocery delivery.

“We worked closely with converters, fleet managers, and businesses to make the PV5 Chassis Cab a foundation for all possibilities,” said Sjoerd Knipping, Chief Operating Officer at Kia Europe. “It allows customers to create the utility vehicle they need today, while being ready for tomorrow’s demands.”

At SOLUTRANS, Kia presented a pre-launch PV5 cab chassis that had been converted into a food truck, offering attendees speciality coffee and French pastries.

Engineered to keep all businesses running

For European markets, the PV5 Chassis Cab will be offered with two battery options: a standard 51.5kWh and long-range 71.2kWh. Range will vary depending on the vehicle’s conversion, but for reference, the standard PV5 Cargo delivers up to 297km with the smaller battery and 416km with the long-range battery (WLTP figures).

DC fast charging of up to 150kW enables a 10 to 80 per cent recharge in approximately 30 minutes, while 22kW AC charging (still to be introduced at time of writing) should take around 2 1/2 hours, depending on the battery.

The cab chassis structure incorporates a dual-annular steel exoskeleton and rear underrun protection device (RUPD), complemented by an Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) suite that includes Smart Cruise Control 2, Lane Following Assist 2 with Hands-On Detection, Lane Keeping Assist and Intelligent Speed Limit Assist.

The PV5 Cargo was recently launched in Australia, but whether the cab chassis will also be released here is still TBC. Local pricing of $55,990 for the Cargo suggests the cab chassis would undercut that by some margin. An industry-leading seven-year/150,000-kilometre warranty - extendable by up to 260,000 kilometres, with the battery covered separately for eight years – applies to the PV5 Cargo. This would likely be available on the cab chassis version, too, should it be released here.