Kia to build $30,000 EV3 in Mexico, unlocking US EV tax credit
A new low-cost EV is primed to hit the US market. Kia plans to build its new EV3 in Mexico as it looks to take advantage of the US electric vehicle tax credit.
Kia introduced the EV3 during its 2023 EV Day as part of a new line-up of affordable electric vehicles.
After opening orders in Korea earlier this month, we learned that the EV3’s starting price is roughly $30,700 (KRW 42.08 million). The EV3 is Kia’s third all-electric vehicle and the first of a new series.
Although it takes much of the design and tech from Kia’s three-row EV9 (in a smaller, more affordable package), the EV3 “carves out its own identity” to stand out in its segment. One of the first things you will see is Kia’s new “Tiger Face” grille, a modern take on its signature Tiger Nose design.
Kia is confident the EV3 will “elevate the perception of EV SUVs” with an advanced electric powertrain, bold design, and innovative tech.
Built on Hyundai’s E-GMP platform (the same one underpinning the IONIQ 5 and Kia EV9) and Kia’s fourth-gen battery tech, the EV3 features up to 373 miles (600 km) WLTP driving range and fast charging capability (10% to 80% in 31 mins).
Kia to build affordable EV3 in Mexico for US EV tax credit
Kia’s new EV3 is built for buyers who may be on the fence about going electric with long-range and fast charging capabilities.
“It will reassure those who may have been hesitant to make the switch to electric mobility and will lead the mass adoption of EVs,” Kia’s president and CEO, Ho Sung Song, boasted.
The inside is loaded with the latest software and connectivity tech. It includes Kia’s next-gen Connected Car Navigation Cockpit (ccNc) with dual 12.3″ screens and Apple CarPlay/ Android Auto support.
Although the EV3 is much smaller than the EV9, it is also more affordable. Kia’s EV9 starts at $54,900 in the US, which is still low for a three-row electric SUV.
With expected starting prices around $30,000 to $35,000, the EV3 will be among the most affordable EVs in the US.
| Place | Most affordable EVs in Q1 2024 | Average selling price with discounts | % off average transaction price |
| 1 | Nissan LEAF | $27,956 | 19% |
| 2 | Nissan Ariya | $35,556 | 31% |
| 3 | Hyundai IONIQ 6 | $36,506 | 22% |
| 4 | Tesla Model 3 | $40,547 | 7% |
| 5 | Toyota bZ4X | $40,646 | 15% |
Data from Cox Automotive, the cheapest EVs in the US in Q1 were the Nissan LEAF, with an average selling price of $27,956, followed by the Nissan Ariya ($35,556), Hyundai IONIQ 6 ($36,506), and Tesla Model 3 ($40,547).
Meanwhile, several new low-cost EVs are hitting the US market this year, including Volvo’s EX30 ($34,950) and Chevy Equinox EV ($34,995).
According to Korean auto media outlet The Korean Car Blog, Kia plans to build the EV3 in Mexico. With the potential $7,500 federal tax credit, EV3 prices could fall to as low as $22,500 to $27,500.
Kia’s Monterey plant in Mexico has a production capacity of up to 400,000 units. The K3 and Pride are currently built there. According to the report, Kia aims to build 110,000 EV3 models annually at the facility.
The Mexico-manufactured EV3 will be sold in North America, while the Korean-made model will be sold domestically and exported to Europe.
Would you buy the EV3 for $30,000? What about $23,000? Let us know in the comments below.
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Climate XChange’s 9th Annual EV Raffle is your chance to win the electric car of your dreams – from Rivian to Tesla to Porsche and more!
But don’t wait, because there are only 5,000 tickets available!
Imagine getting to custom order your perfect EV, with every detail just the way you want it, up to $120,000, and with all taxes covered. That’s what the Grand Prize Winner gets to do – and you could be that winner.
How it works
Enter at CarbonRaffle.org/Electrek. Every ticket you buy is one entry to win. Climate XChange is only selling 5,000 tickets, which means your odds are better here than most internet sweepstakes! Plus, you can feel good knowing your ticket supports an amazing cause: pushing for state-level climate action and advancing the transition to a zero-emissions economy.
The prizes
- Grand Prize: Custom-built EV of your choice, valued up to $120,000, with all taxes covered.
- 2nd Place: $12,500 cash.
- 3rd Place: $7,500 cash.
- Early Bird Prize: Buy your ticket before December 31, 2024, and you’ll also be entered to win $10,000 on January 3, 2025.
That’s two drawings for the price of one ticket – and four chances to win big!
Why enter?
Climate XChange has been making dreams come true for nearly a decade. Last year’s winner drove off in a custom red Tesla Model X Plaid, and you could be next! Climate XChange takes fairness seriously: It prints every raffle ticket stub and live-streams the entire drawing process, ensuring transparency. Independent auditors oversee everything, so you know the drawing is legit.
Who is Climate XChange?
Climate XChange (CXC) is a nonpartisan nonprofit working to help states transition to a zero-emissions economy. It advances state climate policy through its State Climate Policy Network, connecting over 15,000 advocates and policymakers, and through its State Climate Policy Dashboard, a leading data platform for tracking climate action across the US.
Get your ticket today
Visit CarbonRaffle.org/Electrek to grab your ticket. Limited tickets are available – remember, Climate XChange is only selling 5,000 tickets – so don’t miss your shot at an electric future!
Climate XChange EV Raffle rules summary
- Must be 18 or older to enter.
- Tickets are available at CarbonRaffle.org/Electrek.
- Only 5,000 tickets will be sold.
- Early Bird Drawing on January 3, 2025.
- Grand Prize Drawing on February 28, 2025.
All proceeds support Climate XChange’s work to push for ambitious climate policy – so even if you don’t win, you’re still making a difference.
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China just connected its largest single-capacity solar farm built on a former coal mining area, which is in the Gobi Desert, to the grid.
The Mengxi Blue Ocean Photovoltaic Power Station, located in Otog Front Banner, Ordos, Inner Mongolia, came online on November 5. With a massive installed capacity of 3 gigawatts (GW) and over 5.9 million solar panels, the plant will generate around 5.7 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity annually – enough to power 2 million households.
This huge project will save about 1.71 million tons of standard coal each year and cut carbon dioxide emissions by roughly 4.7 million tons, which is equivalent to planting 62,700 hectares (around 155,000 acres) of trees.
Built on coal mining subsidence land, Mengxi Blue Ocean is part of China’s national West-East Electricity Transfer Project, which brings investment and development to western China west while supplying the growing need for electricity in the eastern provinces.
The solar farm includes the country’s first large-scale outdoor solar testing base in the Gobi Desert climate, demonstrating the potential for large solar installations in challenging environments.
The power station makes use of new rare earth alloy grounding materials, cutting costs by 40%. It also replaces traditional concrete foundations with steel to minimize impact on the local grassland ecosystem.
Chuang Xihong, deputy director of the Engineering Construction Department of Guodian Power Group, CHN Energy’s parent company, explained that Mengxi Blue Ocean is an agrivoltaic project as well [via PV Tech]:
Fine forage and sand-fixing plants are planted under the PV modules, providing grazing for Australian White Sheep and chickens. A composite ecological development model will be established where PV power generation and breeding will go hand in hand.
Read more: China powers up the world’s largest open-sea offshore solar farm
If you live in an area that has frequent natural disaster events, and are interested in making your home more resilient to power outages, consider going solar and adding a battery storage system. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. They have hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it’s free to use and you won’t get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.
Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you’ll get access to unbiased Energy Advisers to help you every step of the way. Get started here. –trusted affiliate link*
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