Kia launched this EV pickup based on the PV5 for $30,000

The PV5 is much more than just an electric van. Kia opened orders for an EV pickup truck variant in South Korea this week, starting at 43.45 million won ($30,000). With subsidies, Kia said the actual purchase price can drop to just 29.95 million won ($20,800).

Kia PV5 Open Bed arrives as an EV pickup in Korea

The PV5 is Kia’s first fully electric van from its new Platform Beyond Vehicle (PBV) business. Kia’s PBVs are total mobility solutions that combine custom-tailored EVs with Hyundai’s most advanced software.

Since launching it in Europe, the UK, South Korea, and other markets last year, the PV5 has earned global recognition, including being crowned the 2026 International Van of the Year, the first time a Korean model has won the award.

While the electric van is impressive in standard Passenger or Cargo mode, Kia has much bigger plans for the PV5.

During its PV5 Tech Day event last year, Kia revealed seven new body types, including a Light Camper, a Refrigerated Truck, a luxury “Prime” model, and an Open Bed variant similar to a pickup truck.

Kia opened orders for a few of these new variants in South Korea this week, including the Open Bed, Passenger donor model, and PV5 WAV, its first side-entry EV for wheelchairs.

The PV5 Open Bed is poised to “set a new standard in the compact commercial vehicle market with differentiated product quality that has not been seen before,” Kia said after opening orders.

Kia’s EV pickup is available in Basic Standard, Basic Long Range, Plus Standard, and Plus Long Range trims, starting at 43.45 million won ($30,000). Including government subsidies and other EV discounts, Kia expects the purchase price to drop to around 29.95 million won for the Seoul Metropolitan Government.

The Basic Long Range variant starts at 46.15 million won ($32,000), while the Plus Standard and Plus Long Range models are priced from 46.95 million won ($32,500) and 49.65 million won ($34,400), respectively.

Although it looks like the standard PV5 Passenger and Cargo models up front, the open bed adds the functionality of a pickup.

The Kia PV5 Open Bed measures 5,040 mm in length, 1,895 mm in width, and 1,950 mm in height, with a wheelbase of 2,995 mm. Meanwhile, the loading box is 2,420 mm long and 1,750 mm wide.

For comparison, it’s slightly smaller than a Toyota Hilux or a Ford Ranger. The Hilux is around 5,330 mm long, 1,855 mm wide, and 1,800 mm tall.

Kia said the electric pickup is the longest-range EV in its class. It’s available with two battery packs: 51.5 kWh or 71.2 kWh. The standard range (51.5 kWh) provides a combined 250 km (155 miles) driving range, while the long range (71.2 kWh) delivers up to 330 km (205 km).

The interior features a 12.9″ touchscreen infotainment and a number of advanced driver assistance features as standard, such as Forward Collision-Avoidance Assistance, Navigation-Based Smart Cruise Control, Highway Driving Assist, and Lane Following Assist 2.

The Kia PV5 Open Bed is also equipped with Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) capabilities to power up a worksite, electronics, and more on the go.

Kia said the electric pickup is the perfect fit for several industries, including Logistics and Transportation, Environmental Services, and Agriculture.

Will it also be available for passenger use? Kia has yet to say, but with the standard PV5 available as a Passenger model, it wouldn’t be a surprise.

Would you buy Kia’s EV pickup for around $30,000? Those in Europe may get the chance, but Kia has yet to confirm whether it will launch the PV5 or any of its variants in the US. Let us know what you think of the Kia PV5 Open Bed in the comments below.