CES 2024: Kia Unveils Platform Beyond Vehicles Concept

At the Consumer Electronics Show 2024, Kia announced its Platform Beyond Vehicles (PBV) strategy which will spawn a new line-up of electric vehicles (EVs). The PBVs will arrive in three phases and the first to come from this new EV line-up will be the Concept PV5, slated to enter production in 2025. 

Kia says the PBVs will help achieve Hyundai Motor Group’s software-defined everything (SDx) strategy. The Concept PV5, which is phase 1, is a multi-purpose vehicle and can be configured to be used for delivery and utilities. These will be customised for business fleets and PBV-specific solutions will help reduce downtime, claims Kia. The remaining PBV models, the PV1, PV3 and PV7 will be introduced in phase 2, and in phase 3, they will evolve into customisable, bespoke mobility solutions. 

The PBVs will be based on a modular, skateboard-based EV platform and can have multiple body styles. The Concept PV5 can be configured to have either a van body, a high-roof van body, a robotaxi, or a pickup bed. The Robotaxi, called PV5-R, is being jointly developed with Motional and is aimed to provide level 4 autonomous driving in the future. 

The PV7 will be larger than the PV5, and Kia claims it will have a longer driving range, more interior space and enhanced functionalities. The smaller PV1 will be the smallest PBV in the lineup and is meant for last-mile delivery and connectivity. All four wheels of the PV1 turn simultaneously, allowing it to pivot on the spot. All PBVs will come with aligned floor heights and floor-integrated rails to allow for direct transfer of cargo between vehicles. 

Kia will launch a dedicated business system for the PBVs. This system will include all aspects of business including the product line-up and integration of software solutions. The PBVs will also get In-Vehicle Infotainment (IVI), Fleet Management Services (FMS) and charging solutions that will leverage software-based data and AI. 

The IVI will allow access to Kia’s app marketplace as well as third-party apps, including business-specific apps. The latter will help improve service convenience and information to the user. The FMS allows users to oversee multiple PBVs and provide insight on sales, inventory, deliveries and more. The charging solution will be cleverly optimised to provide optimal charging scheduling and charging station guidance.