Kia’s first electric van is officially cleared for Australia

Kia has quietly crossed an important milestone in Australia’s EV transition. The South Korean brand has received official approval to sell its first fully electric van locally, the Kia PV5, with customer deliveries expected later this year.

Rather than targeting lifestyle buyers out of the gate, the PV5 is clearly aimed at fleets, trades and last-mile delivery operators who want a purpose-built electric workhorse without the premium pricing of boutique EV vans.

Approval documents confirm two body configurations, practical battery specs and enough capability to make it a serious contender in Australia’s growing commercial EV segment.

Two variants, one battery and a clear fleet focus

The Australian-approved PV5 will arrive in three-door and four-door forms, with the extra door positioned on the driver’s side for easier kerbside access. Both variants ride on 16-inch wheels and share the same underlying hardware.

Power comes from a single 71.2 kWh CATL-supplied battery, using Nickel-Manganese-Cobalt chemistry. Internationally, this pack is marketed as the long-range option, delivering up to 415 km of WLTP driving range, which should translate comfortably into a full working day for most urban fleets.

Fast charging is well suited to commercial use, with a 10 to 80 percent recharge achievable in around 30 minutes, making depot top-ups or lunch-break charging realistic rather than theoretical.

Kia has also confirmed Vehicle-to-Load capability, both inside and outside the van, supplying up to 3.68 kW of power. That opens the door to tools, refrigeration, mobile workshops or auxiliary equipment without the need for separate generators.

What this means for Australia’s electric van market

The PV5 rides on Kia’s new Platform Beyond Vehicle architecture, a 400-volt system designed specifically for commercial EVs rather than adapted from passenger cars. A 120 kW front-mounted motor provides the drive, prioritising efficiency and payload consistency over outright performance.

In terms of size, the PV5 sits right in the sweet spot for urban logistics. At 4.695 metres long and just under 1.9 metres tall, it remains car-park friendly while offering meaningful cargo capacity. Ground clearance of 143 mm is slightly higher than Kia’s EV3, helping on rough depot surfaces or poorly maintained access roads.

Towing is modest but realistic for the class, capped at 750 kg, while kerb weight varies between 1,935 kg and 1,955 kg depending on door configuration.

Pricing has not been confirmed, but industry expectations place the PV5 around the $60,000 mark, positioning it well below the Volkswagen ID. Buzz and squarely within reach of fleets looking to electrify without blowing capital budgets.

The PV5 has already been touring Australia since late 2025, appearing at fleet expos and industry events, signalling Kia’s intent to take the commercial EV space seriously rather than treating it as a side project.