KIA, the Korean brand belonging to the Hyundai group, has today given new details of its electrification plans after its record of sales of electric vehicles in the first quarter of 2020. An increase of 75% (reaching 6,811 units) compared to the first quarter of 2019 despite the coronavirus crisis. In total, they accounted for 6% of the brand’s deliveries, compared to 2.9% in the first quarter of 2019.
Already at the beginning of the year, the automaker had announced the “Plan S.” A strategy aimed at giving the company a leading position in an industry that will bet on electric, autonomous, and connected cars in the short term. The “Plan S” contemplated changing the current KIA business strategy focused on thermal vehicles for one focused on popularizing electric vehicles, reaching worldwide sales of 500,000 units by 2026.
To achieve its goals, KIA plans to offer a total of 11 100% electric vehicles globally by 2025, including models from all segments (including SUVs and minivans). KIA’s first new-generation electric car will be the production version of the Imagine by KIA prototype, sitting on Hyundai’s E-GMP electric modular platform. This model will have a crossover bodywork between a sedan, a hatchback, and an SUV. It will offer a range of more than 300 miles and a charging time of less than 20 minutes.
