Kia’s more affordable EV2 is getting ready to undercut Tesla

1 week ago

The Kia EV2, nan automaker’s small, affordable electrical crossover, has been spotted connected nan thoroughfare successful camouflage. It’s nan first clip nan exemplary has been seen successful nan wild, though nan EV2 is not presently confirmed for nan US.

The timing of nan sighting is peculiarly important fixed caller news that Tesla whitethorn have canned its plans for a $25,000 mass-market “Model 2” vehicle. Elon Musk reportedly mothballed nan affordable EV successful favour of going each successful connected nan company’s plans for a afloat autonomous robotaxi.

No charismatic value has been group for nan Kia EV2, but Electrek says it could beryllium 20 cardinal won, aliases astir $15,000. Other reports person it under $30,000 — which would beryllium considerably much affordable than nan existent mean unit value for an EV astatine astir $52,000.

Many EV manufacturers complete nan years person promised to build inexpensive electrical cars for nan masses, but not galore person gone beyond nan conception table. Chinese automakers person introduced a number of highly inexpensive EVs, like BYD $11,500 Seagull, but nary are disposable successful nan US acknowledgment to precocious tariffs.

Volkswagen has said it plans to yet present a $26,000 EV called nan ID.2all, and Ford has a skunkworks division presently moving connected a lineup of cheaper EVs.

Kia and sister automaker Hyundai person introduced respective competitively priced EVs utilizing its shared E-GMP platform, including nan Hyundai Ioniq 5 and 6 and Kia EV6 and EV9. Kia’s EV6, successful particular, has been a deed successful nan US and stands connected its own arsenic a viable replacement to Tesla’s Model 3 and Y.

Kia’s EV9 launched earlier this twelvemonth and is garnering wide liking from those who need 3 rows of seating and want to move to electric. Kia is also planning a smaller crossover SUV pinch nan EV3 and an affordable sedan pinch nan EV4 later this year. Meanwhile, nan EV5, a smaller type of nan EV9, has launched successful China.