Kia isn’t ruling out another city car. In fact, the brand’s European marketing boss has told Autocar that Kia will “continue to study” opportunities in the segment - a nod that the rumoured EV1 could eventually join the petrol-powered Picanto.
Last year, Kia president and CEO Ho Sung Song confirmed that work was underway on a small electric model expected to come in under €25,000 (£22,000). If it goes ahead, the EV1 is likely to arrive before the end of the decade, lining up against rivals like the upcoming Renault Twingo and Volkswagen ID.1.
Fresh from unveiling the new EV2 crossover at the Brussels Motor Show, designed mainly for European roads and city life, Kia hinted that the EV1 could follow a similar path, being built specifically for European buyers. Both cars will play a big part in Kia’s electric growth strategy across the continent.
When asked about the EV1, Kia Europe’s marketing boss David Hilbert said the brand was exploring how to make EVs “more accessible” for drivers. “We will continue to look at where the opportunities are and, obviously, it's called EV2 for a reason,” he added, with a smile that suggested the EV2’s name wasn’t chosen by accident.
Even though the EV2 is focused on urban driving, its near-300-mile range means it’s not restricted to short trips. Hilbert also stressed that Kia still sees value in the city car segment, saying the Picanto remains a key model with strong sales across Europe.
Meanwhile, the EU is developing a new ‘E-car’ category to help encourage affordable small EVs built within Europe, something that could directly benefit both the Slovakia-built EV2 and any future EV1. Kia Europe’s planning boss, Alex Papapetropoulos, said the company was watching closely: "I'm not worried, because we have in our product plan the toolkit that allows us to adjust and adapt to whatever is going to be announced."
