Kia builds the first EV3 prototypes in Mexico ahead of US sales

Kia is finally bringing the affordable electric SUV to the US later this year. The first EV3 prototypes are now rolling off the assembly line at Kia’s plant in Mexico ahead of sales.

When is Kia launching the EV3 in the US?

With the EV3 set to go on sale in the US later this year, Kia is already building the first prototypes in Mexico. According to new registration data, Kia produced 15 EV3 models at its Pesquería plant in Nuevo León last month.

The prototypes are expected to be the first batch of test vehicles after some have already been spotted on public roads.

As it ramps up production in Mexico, local reports suggest Kia is keeping a low profile with the US-Mexico-Canada (USMCA) joint review scheduled for July.

After the EV3 went on sale in Europe in November 2024, the compact electric SUV quickly became a hit, thanks to a segment-leading range of up to 375 miles and an affordable price starting around 36,000 euros ($38,300).

In its first year on sale, the EV3 was the third-best-selling EV in the UK, ranking among the top 10 in Europe and other overseas markets such as Australia.

While those in the US were getting worried Kia would cancel the electric SUV for the US after delaying the EV4 indefinitely, Kia confirmed the EV3 will go on sale in the US later this year at last week’s New York Auto Show.

After it made its North American debut at the event, Kia said the EV3 is an “entry-level EV SUV that offers many of the advanced amenities of the EV9” in a smaller package.

The EV3 will be available in five trims: Light, Wind, Land, GT-Line, and a flagship GT variant. The base Light model is powered by a 58.3 kWh battery and a front-mounted electric motor, which Kia estimates will provide up to 220 miles of range.

The Wind, Land, GT-Line, and GT trims are available with an extended-range 81.4 kWh battery, providing an estimated range of up to 320 miles in the front wheel drive models. All-wheel drive is optional on Wind and Land trims and standard on the GTR-Line and GT variants.

Unpinned by the 400V E-GMP platform, the EV3 Light with the 58.3 kWh battery can charge from 10% to 80% in about 29 minutes. The 81.4 kWh battery takes about 31 minutes.

We will learn prices closer to launch, but the EV3 is expected to start around $35,000, given it will sit below the EV6 in Kia’s US lineup. The 2026 Kia EV6 currently starts at $42,900.

Electrek’s Take

Will the EV3 achieve the same success in the US as it has in Europe and other global markets? If it starts at or under $35,000, the Kia EV3 will be among the most affordable EVs in the US alongside the new Nissan LEAF, Chevy Bolt EV, Hyundai IONIQ 5, and Toyota bZ.

Although EV sales slipped again in the first quarter following the Trump administration’s policy changes, affordable electric SUVs like the Toyota bZ, Hyundai IONIQ 5, and Chevy Equinox EV were among the most popular EVs in the US.

The Tesla Model Y remained the top-seller, followed by the Model 3, Toyota bZ, Hyundai IONIQ 5, and Chevy Equinox EV, rounding out the top five.

Will the EV3 make its mark in the US? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.