NOW TRENDING
Kia Expands The PV5 Lineup With New Six- And Seven-Seat Electric Passenger Versions
Kia is broadening the appeal of its all-electric PV5 Passenger by introducing new six- and seven-seat configurations, transforming the model into one of the most versatile electric people movers on the market. Originally launched as a five-seat vehicle, the PV5 Passenger now targets a wider audience that ranges from large families to ride-hailing operators, shuttle services and commercial passenger transport providers.
The expansion is another important step in Kia’s growing Platform Beyond Vehicle (PBV) strategy, which aims to combine electrification, flexibility and software-driven mobility solutions in a single ecosystem. By adding new seating layouts while maintaining the model’s practical design and electric efficiency, Kia is positioning the PV5 as much more than a conventional electric van.
The Kia PV5 Passenger is now available in five-, six- and seven-seat configurations, significantly expanding its appeal across private and commercial markets.
The Kia PV5 Is Becoming One Of The Most Flexible Electric Passenger Vehicles Available
The biggest news is the arrival of the new six-seat and seven-seat variants.
The six-seat version adopts a 1-2-3 seating layout, a configuration designed primarily for professional passenger transport services. Meanwhile, the seven-seat model uses a 2-2-3 arrangement, making it particularly attractive for larger families or mobility providers looking for maximum passenger capacity without moving into a full-size commercial vehicle. Alongside the original five-seat version, Kia now offers a much broader range of solutions built around the same electric platform.
This flexibility is one of the defining strengths of the Kia PV5 Passenger. Depending on the configuration, the vehicle can function as a family transporter, airport shuttle, ride-sharing vehicle or taxi, demonstrating how Kia’s PBV concept extends beyond traditional vehicle categories. Instead of developing separate products for different customers, Kia is creating multiple use cases around a single modular platform.
Spacious Interior And Practical Design Remain Key Selling Points
One of the reasons the PV5 adapts so well to different roles is its interior packaging.
Built on Kia’s dedicated E-GMP.S platform, the PV5 benefits from a flat-floor architecture that maximizes passenger and cargo space. Occupants in all three rows enjoy generous legroom, headroom and shoulder room, while dual sliding doors improve accessibility for rear passengers. Kia also designed the seating arrangement to simplify access to the third row, making daily use easier for families and commercial operators alike.
Practicality extends beyond passenger comfort. The various seating configurations allow the cabin to be adapted for luggage, equipment or mixed passenger-cargo use. Multiple ISOFIX mounting points further strengthen the vehicle’s family-friendly credentials, while flexible folding seats help maximize available storage space when needed.
The flat-floor platform allows the PV5 to offer impressive passenger space and flexible seating arrangements across all three rows.
Up To 412 Kilometers Of Range And Fast Charging Capability
The Kia PV5 Passenger continues to offer competitive electric performance thanks to two available battery options: 51.5 kWh and 71.2 kWh.
In five-seat configuration, the larger battery delivers up to 412 kilometers of range on a single charge. Both battery versions support fast charging, allowing the battery to recharge from 10% to 80% in approximately 30 minutes when connected to a sufficiently powerful DC fast charger.
Kia has also confirmed that a new 22-kW onboard AC charger will become available, significantly reducing charging times during everyday use. This upgrade reinforces the PV5’s position as a practical vehicle for customers who depend on regular charging throughout their workday or family routine.
Another standout feature is the availability of Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) functionality, allowing owners to power external electrical devices directly from the vehicle. Combined with towing capability of up to 1,500 kilograms on models equipped with the larger battery, the PV5 delivers a level of versatility rarely found in compact electric passenger vans.
Kia’s PBV Strategy Continues To Gain Momentum
The new seating options arrive at an important moment for Kia’s broader mobility ambitions.
The company views the PV5 as the foundation of a larger PBV ecosystem that combines software, connectivity, fleet integration and electrification. Features such as over-the-air updates, Android Automotive-based infotainment, fleet management integration and access to third-party applications are central to that vision. The goal is to create vehicles that can continuously evolve while serving both private customers and commercial operators.
Kia plans to expand its PBV family further with the introduction of the PV7 in 2027 and the PV9 in 2029, creating a complete lineup of purpose-built electric mobility solutions. The company expects to offer more than 40 body and configuration variations across the PBV range, highlighting the significant growth potential of this business segment.
The PV5 represents the first major step in Kia’s long-term PBV strategy, which will eventually include larger and more specialized electric mobility solutions.
The Kia PV5 Is Evolving Beyond The Traditional Electric Van
The arrival of six- and seven-seat versions demonstrates how aggressively Kia is pushing the PBV concept into new areas of the market.
Rather than treating the PV5 as a simple electric van, Kia is positioning it as a highly adaptable mobility platform capable of serving families, businesses, fleets and shared mobility operators alike. With greater passenger capacity, competitive range, fast-charging capability and expanding software functionality, the Kia PV5 Passenger is becoming one of the most versatile electric people movers currently available.
Slate has confirmed pricing, improved driving range and new details for its affordable electric pickup ahead of deliveries.
Slate has officially confirmed pricing and new specifications for its highly anticipated electric pickup. Starting at just $26,400 including destination, the Slate electric truck will become one of the most affordable new EVs in the United States when deliveries begin later this year.
The startup also revealed improvements in driving range, payload capacity and charging performance ahead of production.
The Slate electric truck starts at $26,400, making it one of the most affordable EV pickups in the U.S.
Affordable price with extensive customization
The entry-level Blank Slate pickup starts at $26,400, including a $1,450 destination fee.
Customers can also choose two SUV variants:
- Blank Slate Pickup: $26,400
- Squareback SUV: $31,400
- Fastback SUV: $33,400
Slate will sell vehicles directly to customers, with every truck leaving the factory in the same gray finish before receiving one of 100 available vinyl wraps. Around 40 wrap colors cost just $499, while nearly all accessories can be installed later by owners.
Buyers can personalize the Slate with dozens of wraps and accessories after purchase.
More range and better utility
One of the biggest improvements is the adoption of a new 63-kWh LFP battery, increasing estimated driving range from 150 miles to 205 miles.
The rear-wheel-drive electric motor produces 181 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque, allowing the truck to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 8.0 seconds before reaching a top speed of 90 mph.
Charging is handled through a Tesla-compatible NACS connector, supporting DC fast charging up to 120 kW and an 11-kW onboard AC charger capable of fully recharging the battery in about four hours with Level 2 equipment.
Payload capacity has also increased to 1,550 pounds, while towing capacity now reaches 2,000 pounds. Thanks to its electric architecture, the truck also offers a 7-cubic-foot front trunk in addition to its five-foot cargo bed.
The Slate electric truck now offers up to 205 miles of range with its new LFP battery.
Slate says it has already received approximately 180,000 reservations and expects to begin customer deliveries during the fourth quarter of 2026. The company aims to ramp production to 150,000 vehicles annually by late next year, positioning the Slate as one of the most affordable and customizable electric pickups available in the U.S. market.
The affordable Slate electric truck starts at $26,400, but adding accessories can nearly double its final price.
The Slate electric truck has attracted attention with its low starting price, but buyers who customize it heavily could end up paying almost twice as much. After revealing its $1,450 destination fee, the startup’s online configurator shows how quickly the cost can climb with optional accessories.
While the base pickup remains one of the most affordable EVs on the market, personalization comes at a premium.
The Slate electric truck starts at $26,400 before adding optional accessories.
Three body styles and hundreds of customization options
Slate offers the truck in three different configurations:
- Blank Slate Pickup: $26,400
- Squareback SUV: $31,400
- Fastback SUV: $33,400
Customers can personalize nearly every aspect of the vehicle, including custom vinyl wraps, decals, auxiliary lighting, roof racks, grille designs, wider fender flares and 20-inch wheels.
A custom exterior wrap alone adds $1,599.99, while premium wheels increase the price by another $1,399.99.
Buyers can choose from dozens of exterior accessories and custom appearance packages.
Interior upgrades quickly increase the price
The cabin follows the same philosophy, allowing buyers to add features that are absent from the standard truck.
Optional equipment includes a center console, upgraded speakers, storage systems, floor mats, colored interior trim and a dashboard-mounted tablet that serves as the infotainment display.
After selecting nearly every available option on the Fastback SUV, the total reached $47,744.39, and that figure could climb even higher since some accessories still don’t have official pricing.
A fully equipped Slate Fastback SUV can approach $48,000 with optional upgrades.
The Slate electric truck remains one of the most affordable new EVs in the United States, but its highly customizable approach means buyers can easily transform a budget-friendly pickup into a much more expensive vehicle. For customers looking to maximize value, choosing accessories carefully will be key to keeping the final price under control.
A Ford Mustang Mach-E owner claims the automaker should return tariff-related price increases after receiving a federal refund.
Ford is facing a proposed class-action lawsuit after a California customer argued that the automaker should return tariff-related price increases to buyers. The lawsuit comes after the federal government agreed to refund import duties previously collected under tariffs that were later ruled unlawful.
The case centers on the Ford Mustang Mach-E, which is manufactured in Mexico and was affected by higher import costs.
A Ford Mustang Mach-E owner is seeking a refund through a proposed class-action lawsuit.
Customer says Ford should share tariff refund
The lawsuit was filed on July 9 by California resident Jason Bullock, who claims Ford increased prices and destination charges to offset import tariffs on Mexican-built vehicles.
After the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the tariffs exceeded presidential authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), the federal government agreed to refund affected import duties.
Ford has previously estimated it could recover approximately $1.3 billion through those refunds.
The lawsuit argues Ford should return tariff-related costs to affected customers.
The legal battle could affect other major companies
According to the complaint, Ford would receive an unfair financial benefit if it keeps both the government refund and the higher prices previously paid by customers.
The lawsuit argues that buyers who absorbed those additional costs deserve compensation now that the tariffs are being refunded.
Ford is not the only company facing this type of legal challenge. Similar lawsuits have also been filed against Nike, Amazon and Costco, meaning the first case to reach a final ruling could establish an important legal precedent for future consumer claims.
The outcome of the Ford lawsuit could influence similar cases against other major U.S. companies.
Although the case is still in its early stages, it raises important questions about how companies should handle government tariff refunds when previous import costs were passed directly to consumers. The outcome could have broader implications for both automakers and retailers operating in the U.S. market.
-
TEST DRIVES1 month ago2026 Subaru Outback Touring
-
TEST DRIVES2 months ago2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz Limited AWD
-
TEST DRIVES1 month agoLamborghini prepares multiple launches for 2026 as electrification plans continue
-
RACING1 month agoGeorge Russell Leads Final Barcelona Practice As Kimi Antonelli Receives Reprimand
-
RACING1 month agoBarcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix: Everything You Need To Know About Formula 1’s Ultimate Benchmark Circuit
-
NOW TRENDING1 month agoPorsche Creates A Buzz Lightyear-Inspired 911 GT3 RS That Looks Ready To Go “To Infinity And Beyond”
-
RACING1 month agoWhy Formula 1 Has Pit Lane Speed Limits And How They Are Measured
-
NOW TRENDING1 month ago2026 Audi Q7 Brings New Design, Smarter Technology, And Greater Versatility
You must be logged in to post a comment Login