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.
Kia EV3 electric SUV (Source: Kia)
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.
Kia EV3 interior (Source: Kia)
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%
Top five most affordable EVs in Q1 2024 (Source: Cox Automotive)
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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“Honda hydrogen is open for business,” says David Perzynski, assistant manager of hydrogen solutions development at American Honda. “(We have) the fuel cell technology, the expertise, and the supply chain to power a variety of zero-emissions products, including commercial trucking and stationary power generation.”
The company arrived with a more developed version of its Peterbilt 579EV-based HFC semi concept, which is based on one of that brand’s existing BEVs and uses the Honda fuel cell as a range-extending generator for its 120 kWh battery … or, rather, it would – if it was ever plugged into a charger.
On battery power alone, the big Pete is good for up to 150 miles of fully loaded range. With the fuel cell along for the piggyback ride, however, the truck’s range climbs to more than 500 miles at an 82,000 lb. combined vehicle weight.
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More than just a range-extender
Honda envisions a world where its hydrogen fuel cell is used in much more than transportation and logistics applications. At the ACT Expo, Honda had a scale mock-up of what a hospital-sized hydrogen backup generator could look like – and hinted that such an installation might soon become a reality.
This is all very normal for Honda
Honda FCX hydrogen fuel cell concept; via Honda.
If it seems weird that Honda is pushing hydrogen so hard these days, it shouldn’t. Honda’s been developing hydrogen fuel cells for nearly forty years, and put its first hydrogen fuel cell car (the FCX concept, above) all the way back in 1999.
Since then, it’s put a number of hydrogen fuel cell-powered vehicles into series production, including the innovative Honda CR-V HFC hybrid that lets you fill the car’s 17.7 kWh battery with electrons at home for up to 29 miles of all-electric driving, then fill up the hydrogen tank for another 241 miles of driving … and they’re not stopping there.
We had a chance to chat with David Perzynski on Quick Charge last year, where he talked us through some of Honda’s hydrogen plans in more detail. You can check it out, below.
Volkswagen of America is recalling nearly 5,700 2025 VW ID. Buzz vans because the NHTSA says the third-row bench seat is too spacious. (For real.)
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the third-row bench is physically wide enough for three people, but it’s only designed to hold two, so it’s only equipped with two seat belts. That mismatch violates Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, which covers occupant crash protection. A bench that invites three passengers but only protects two isn’t just awkward – it’s a safety risk. It simply makes it too easy to squeeze that third person in the back “just that once” without a seatbelt, and that’s inviting trouble.
Volkswagen will fix the ID. Buzz issue by having dealers install “fixed unpadded trim parts” that adjust the seat’s usable width, and they’ll do it for free, because recall repairs are always free. It’ll probably be hard plastic on the seat to ensure a third person can’t squeeze in. Owner notification letters are expected to go out starting June 20, 2025.
Volkswagen has reported that, to date, there have been “no field claims known” of safety issues caused by the extra-wide third row bench seat.
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Electric vehicle charging and battery storage specialists Zenobē have inked a deal with Canadian leasing company 7Gen to fund more than 500 commercial EVs and their associated charging infrastructure.
Last week, Zenobē agreed to provide up to $48 million (Canadian) in debt financing to 7Gen to help expand its vehicle-as-a-service electric truck leasing program across Canada.
7Gen supports fleet operators with a comprehensive set of vehicle leasing and financing solutions that cover EV charger deployment, energy management systems, and ongoing operational support for Canadian fleet customers operating electric trucks, vans, and school buses.
Zenobē secured $1.6 billion in equity from its joint majority shareholders KKR and M&G Infracapital to fuel its global expansion into EVs and grid-scale batteries back in 2023. Since then, it’s grown to support more than 2,000 EVs and 120 charging depots across markets in the UK, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand.
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“We’re bringing our innovative funding approach to Canada and specifically to 7Gen,” says Steven Meersman, Co-Founder and Director of Zenobē. “We see momentum behind decarbonization in Canada’s supportive government policies and the clean, affordable power that will ensure a lower total cost of ownership for zero-emissions vehicles. We look forward to sharing our global experience electrifying over 120 depots to benefit 7Gen, its fleet customers and the wider electric fleet market in Canada.”
That innovative funding strategy is something Steven and I had a chance to discuss this week at the ACT Expo in Anaheim, California. “We’re being very careful in the way we approach the North American market,” he said (paraphrasing). “The market is fairly littered with the graves of other UK EV companies that have tried to find a foothold here and failed, so we’re being very careful about our partners.”
Despite living just a few minutes from his Chicago HQ, I’d never met Steven before this week. He’s a super-interesting guy and you will definitely learn a thing or two about how to build a multimillion dollar energy management company like Zenobē from our upcoming podcast (stay tuned for that). But the news here is 7Gen.
“Zenobē’s debt financing supports 7Gen’s next growth step and allows us to help our customers step up the pace of their EV adoption and benefit immediately from operational cost savings,” says Frans Tjallingii, CEO, 7Gen. “Zenobē’s team is well aligned with ours and we are thrilled to partner to scale our impact in Canada together.”
The company will begin rolling out its Zenobē-funded electric trucks in the coming weeks, with new partners and projects set to be announced shortly.
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