Update: ‘On the Kia Carnival Hybrid’ section added and ‘Kia to sell 14 electric models’ section updated.
Until 2020, we heard over and over again that a Kia Carnival hybrid is coming to market. Since 2021, we see there are also rumors of a Kia Carnival EV.
S.Korean portal ETNews reports on future Kia electric car launches
In a piece published on November 4, 2021, ETNews reported that the AutoLand plant in Gwangmyeong would be at the center of the Kia electric vehicle strategy. It suggested that the Kia EV9 will roll out of this factory. Additionally, it claimed that Kia plans to convert the fourth-gen Carnival into hybrid and electric models. AutoLand Gwangmyeong is the mother plant of the gasoline and diesel Carnival.
This wasn’t the first time we were hearing of a Kia Carnival electric on the company’s roadmap. A Daily Car report had claimed the existence of a zero-emissions Carnival in the Kia line-up on July 16, 2021. According to that article, Kia may launch the hybrid and pure electric variants of the Carnival in the first markets as early as 2023. Previous reports had ruled out the possibility of the Carnival Hybrid and Carnival AWD citing structural unsuitability, the low floor, and the flat-folding seats. Perhaps Kia developers have had a breakthrough with the platform for electrified variants.
On the Kia Carnival Hybrid
A Kia Carnival Hybrid is likely to precede the all-electric minivan we’ve discussed in the story. According to a report from carguy.kr, many customers in S.Korea are awaiting the partially electric Carnival, and Kia will likely release the variant in 2023. The company will build the Carnival Hybrid on the production line of the Stinger. The report claimed that Kia is preparing for Carnival Hybrid production and could discontinue the flagship four-door model later this year. However, none of this has been confirmed by the company.
Kia may use a combination of a 1.6-liter turbocharged gasoline engine and an electric motor in the Carnival Hybrid, identical to the new Sportage Hybrid and Sorento Hybrid. However, instead of the 6-speed automatic transmission, it is likely to employ an 8-speed automatic in the hybrid minivan. If the car meets production in the foreseeable future, will the U.S. launch of the Carnival Hybrid take place by end of 2023? We’ll be sure to keep an eye on further developments!
Kia to sell 14 electric models
Kia plans to expand its EV line-up to 14 models by 2027, at least eight of which will be dedicated EVs based on the Hyundai Motor Group’s E-GMP platform. The others will be conversions of ICE models, including partially electrified models like the Kia Niro EV. One of the converted EVs could be a pure electric Carnival as well. Meanwhile, sister brand Hyundai has already confirmed a hydrogen fuel cell electric van launch in the Hyundai Staria Fuel Cell.
By 2030, Kia aims to sell 4 million vehicles, including 1.2 million EVs, annually. The company expects more than 80% of EV sales to come from Korea, North America, Europe, and China. It projects EVs to take 45% of its sales in these markets.
Kia’s ultimate goal is to become carbon-neutral on the product front globally. In that journey, the company plans to achieve new milestones every few years, including converting the whole product line-up to EVs in Europe by 2035 and then in other major markets (presumably incl. the U.S.) by 2040. Moreover, it will launch hydrogen FCEVs starting in 2028.
Featured Image Source: Hyundai Motor Group
Keyword: A Kia Carnival EV is in the pipeline, claims Korean report [Update]