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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.
Toyota has recalled more than 500,000 Camry sedans because the 7.0-inch digital instrument cluster can remain blank, causing the speedometer and warning indicators to stop working.
Toyota has announced a major Toyota Camry recall affecting 508,000 model-year 2025 and 2026 sedans in the United States. The problem involves certain 7.0-inch digital instrument clusters that can remain completely blank when the vehicle is started.
A dark instrument panel is more than an inconvenience. Drivers may lose access to the speedometer, warning lights, and turn signal indicators. Toyota says the issue requires a dealer-installed software update.
Which Toyota Camry Models Are Included?
The recall applies only to 2025 and 2026 Toyota Camry models equipped with the 7.0-inch digital combination meter.
Affected trims include:
- Camry LE
- Camry SE
- Camry Nightshade
The XLE and XSE trims are not included because they use a different 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster.
Toyota has recalled more than 500,000 Camry sedans because the 7.0-inch instrument cluster can remain blank.
Toyota split the campaign by trim level because only vehicles with the smaller display are affected.
What Happens When the Display Goes Blank?
On affected vehicles, the instrument cluster may fail to activate when the car is turned on. When that happens, the screen remains black and does not display critical driving information.
A blank display can affect:
Audible warning chimes
Vehicle speed
Warning lights
Turn signal confirmation
Hazard lamp status
The recall affects Camry models equipped with the 7.0-inch digital combination meter.
Losing these functions can make it more difficult for drivers to monitor the vehicle and respond to certain driving situations.
Toyota Will Update the Software
Toyota has confirmed that the fix is a software update for the 7.0-inch combination meter.
The update must be performed by a Toyota dealer and will be provided free of charge. Unlike some previous software campaigns, this recall cannot be completed through an over-the-air update.
Toyota dealers will perform a software update free of charge to correct the instrument cluster issue.
Owners of affected vehicles will need to schedule a dealership visit to have the instrument cluster reprogrammed.
When Will Owners Be Notified?
Toyota expects to begin mailing recall notification letters by early October 2026.
However, owners do not have to wait for a letter. They can check whether their vehicle is included by entering the VIN in Toyota’s recall lookup system or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) database.
Why This Recall Matters
This is not the first time Toyota has dealt with instrument cluster display issues. The company has issued several recall campaigns involving blank digital displays on Toyota and Lexus models over the past year.
For affected Camry owners, the solution is straightforward, but it is important to address the problem promptly. A functioning instrument cluster is essential for safe driving, and the software update is the only official remedy for this Toyota Camry recall.
Ford is reportedly developing a new entry-level SUV that could start around $25,000 and offer both hybrid and gasoline powertrains by 2029.
Ford is reportedly working on a new entry-level SUV priced around $25,000 that could become the most affordable vehicle in its lineup by the end of the decade. The model was reportedly shown to dealers during a recent private event in Las Vegas, where executives presented early design mockups of the upcoming crossover.
The project remains in the early stages of development, but it appears to be part of Ford’s broader strategy to expand its range of affordable vehicles.
Ford reportedly showed dealers early mockups of a new entry-level SUV expected to arrive by 2029.
According to reports, dealers compared the vehicle to the first-generation Ford Escape, describing it as boxy and wide with compact proportions.
The new SUV is expected to sit below the Ford Maverick, which is currently the brand’s least expensive model.
Hybrid and gasoline versions are planned
Unlike the upcoming Ford Fathom electric pickup, the new SUV is not expected to use Ford’s Universal EV platform.
The upcoming SUV is expected to offer both hybrid and gasoline powertrains.
Instead, it will reportedly be available with both hybrid and non-hybrid powertrains, allowing Ford to target a broader range of buyers.
The expected price of around $25,000 would place it directly against affordable subcompact SUVs such as the Chevrolet Trax, Mazda CX-30 and Kia Seltos.
That positioning would give Ford a stronger entry-level offering in one of the fastest-growing segments of the U.S. market.
Production could begin in 2029
The design shown to dealers was reportedly only a preliminary concept, meaning the final production model could change significantly before launch.
The production version could be built in Mexico and become Ford’s most affordable model.
Reports indicate that a new hybrid crossover is scheduled to enter production in 2029 at Ford’s Hermosillo Assembly Plant in Mexico, and that model could be the same vehicle presented during the dealer event.
If the project moves forward as expected, the Ford $25,000 SUV would become one of the brand’s most important new products, giving buyers a more affordable alternative to larger crossovers and helping Ford compete more aggressively in the entry-level SUV segment.
Mercedes-AMG has previewed its upcoming electric performance SUV, which is expected to deliver more than 1,000 horsepower and share technology with the new AMG GT 4-Door EV.
Mercedes-AMG has released the first teaser images of its upcoming electric performance SUV, giving enthusiasts a preview of what could become one of the brand’s most powerful production vehicles.
The new model is expected to share its design philosophy and powertrain technology with the recently revealed AMG GT 4-Door EV, which produces up to 1,153 horsepower.
Mercedes-AMG has previewed its upcoming electric performance SUV with styling inspired by the new GT 4-Door EV.
Although the SUV remains hidden under a black cover, several design details are already visible. The front lighting appears to feature Mercedes-AMG’s new three-pointed star LED signature, while the rear lights also incorporate illuminated star-shaped graphics similar to those used on the GT 4-Door EV.
The overall proportions suggest a high-performance SUV with wide fenders, a low roofline and a more aggressive stance than current AMG utility models.
AMG GT 4-Door technology is expected underneath
Mercedes-AMG has not confirmed technical specifications yet, but the SUV is widely expected to use the same dedicated electric performance platform as the AMG GT 4-Door EV.
The electric SUV is expected to share its platform and performance technology with the AMG GT 4-Door EV.
That would likely mean a tri-motor powertrain producing up to 1,153 horsepower in its highest-performance version, with lower-output variants also expected to join the lineup.
The GT 4-Door EV also uses a 106-kWh battery pack, and the SUV is expected to offer a driving range of around 300 miles depending on the final configuration.
A new chapter for AMG performance
The upcoming SUV represents another major step in Mercedes-AMG’s transition toward high-performance electric vehicles.
Mercedes-AMG is expanding its next-generation electric performance lineup with a dedicated high-performance SUV.
The company has made it clear that future AMG EVs will focus not only on acceleration, but also on handling, thermal performance and repeatable high-output capability.
The Mercedes-AMG electric SUV is expected to be fully revealed before the end of the year, with sales likely beginning during 2027.
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