Kia expands electric range with EV3 while China increases shares

Korea’s Kia is increasing its play of electric vehicles in Europe, just in time to fulfill a full market sales campaign from China.

UBS Investment Bank last year stated that Chinese EVs had a nearly 30% advantage of cost to counterparts in the European market. This also included sedan and SUV from Kia/Hyundai of Korea, and Japanese exporters as well. The Kia/Hyundai combination sells just over 1 million combustion vehicles and EV in Europe per year for a market share of just over 8%, according to the European Association of Vehicle Producers. Toyota and Lexus are close to 8% as well. Sales from Nissan, Honda, Suzuki, Mazda and Subaru are more like rounding errors.

Kia has said she plans to sell 1.15 million evil by 2027, with 455,000 in Europe. Last year she sold about 67,200 in Europe, down 14%, so there is a way to go.

Kia, which not long ago sold its vehicles in Europe for tempted buyers only at low prices and long guarantees, has moved to another level. KIA in Europe now competes with the highest mass market products from the likes of Volkswagen and Peugeot of Stellantis, but there are ambitions to close in Germans like BMW, Mercedes and Audi.

Already on the market is the Big Kia EV9 SUV, which sells for about 75,000 ((95,000 dollars) after tax and competing with products such as Tesla Model X, Mercedes EQS, Audi Q8, BMW IX and Volvo Ex90. SUV EV6 is about £ 25,000 ($ 31,700) and should win sales against Tesla Model and Volvo Model and Volvo Model Mustang Mach E.

The youngest and smallest kia is “3”, a SUV about £ 15,000 ($ 19,000) cheaper and its rivals include Renault Megane E-Tech, Volkswagen ID.4, Byd Atto3, Mg4 and Smart#1. The last three are the early Chinese arrivals in Europe, so it is difficult to imagine a tougher marketing environment. Unlike KIA, Chinese manufacturers are not approaching Europe in a modest, additional way, but with all the weapons that blaze, offering vehicles running directly on a wide front, including Porsche and Mercedes. Even Aston Martin, Bentley, Ferrari and Rolls Royce should start looking nervously on their shoulders.

Kia has just introduced Sedan EV4, which will rival VW ID.3 and Byd Dolphin. It is expected to introduce small EV2 next year, to be built at its Slovakian factory. VW counterpart, ID.2, will appear next year.

The last EV of Kia, “3”, as her older and most expensive sisters, has attractive views of attention and a high quality interior. Like most modern and SUV sedans, the direction and design are so impressive, it is difficult to find the basis for criticism. But EVS still have Achilles’ heels, and EV3 is no exception. Kia claims the battery will offer 361 miles of range, but it is charged only for an average capacity of 271.5 miles. The rapid but legal navigation below the authoroute was also non -impressive, reducing range by over 60%.

There is some good news here for Europeans, Japanese and Koreans. The new ones from China, such as Funny Cat, Mgs, Polesters and Byds, are also the worst performers of the authoroute.

The European market for EVS is entering a critical stage. The market share EV is now just over 20%, it should reach about 28% this year, and 80% by 2030 if the European Union’s CO2 mandate is fulfilled. It is difficult to see how there will be many affordable products, according to most forecasts.

EV volumes foresee an EV market share 61.6% in 2030. Investment researcher Jefferies reduced more than two million sales from his 2030 forecast at the end of last year. Its forecast now stands at 4.7 million for a market share of 35%. Professor Stefan Bratzel, director of the German Vehicle Management Center, hosts up to 50% in 2030.

French Auto Inovev has reduced its prediction to 40% by 2030. Many predictors see a large increase in EV sales in 2025 while EU CO2 rules are strengthened.

“A big growth is a little more optimistic for us. We anticipate an increase in 2025 and 2026 thanks to the start of the smallest more affordable EVs such as Renault 5 and 4, Citroa E-3, and Hyundai Inster, but it will not be a huge increase, even if some car manufacturers can push EVS sales this year to adjust to the 2025 C02, “Jamel Taganza. in email.

Taganza said there are many restrictions that block mass sales. There is not quite affordable and the charging infrastructure is poor. The EU will need to dilute its strict CO2 mandate, which exceeds new combustion sales completely by 2035.

“We think the EU target 2035 will not be held as it is today. It will adapt to the reality of the market,” Taganza said.

How will they resist the likes of the new threat from China?

“The main differentiation of the market of Korean car manufacturers until recently were to trade interesting products at a competitive price, against Europeans supported by 5-7 years guarantees. Chinese manufacturers will go further to prices with the same level of warranty and even attract customers with financial packages and facilities,” Taganza said.

Taganza said China will probably reach a respectable level by 2030, but this is not a knockout. Chinese brands will reach a 7% action by 2030 of the entire European market, compared to 9% for Koreans and the same for Japanese. Europe will hold 67% of the market. Inovev said the European General Market will reach 15.2 million by 2030, not much higher than the 2025 forecast.

Jato Dynamics said Chinese combustion and EV’s vehicle sales in Europe increased 52% in January compared to the same period 2024 in 37,100, for a market share of 3.7% (2.4%).

Kia ev3 gt-line s

Electric motor – 198 kf

Torque – 283 NM @ 5,000 rpm

One-speed transmission-automatic

Battery – 81.4 kWh lithium ion

Acceleration-0-60 mph 7.7 seconds

High speed – 105 mph

Pricing – £ 43,895 after tax ($ 55,655)