Kia stands by its 1.6 million EV sales goal with new affordable models driving demand
As rivals like Ford and Toyota are pulling back major electric vehicle initiatives, Kia is plowing ahead as it looks to secure a leadership role. Kia is standing by its EV sales goal of 1.6 million models by 2030. With new low-cost EVs like the EV3 rolling out, Kia is already seeing strong demand.
Kia says 1.6 million EV sales goal for 2030 is still intact
Coming off back-to-back record global sales the past two years, Kia expects the momentum to continue.
However, “some difficulties” are expected in the short term. The Korean automaker sees shifting government policies and new tariffs on EV imports in the US and EU as potential headwinds this year and into 2025.
Despite this, Kia is sticking to its long-term sales goal of selling 1.6 million EV models in 2030. Kevin Ahn, CEO of Kia Asia Pacific, said at an event on Wednesday (via Reuters), “We’re not pushing volume to market. Especially this year, the market is changing very rapidly and there are so many uncertainties.”
“But our long term target is for 2030, 1.6 million EVs,” Ahn added. Kia expects “some chasms” on the way, but the goal is within reach.
Like most automakers, Kia is bracing for the impacts of the US election. “Recently, the U.S. has finished their election, and there are big changes and expectations,” Ahn said it was too early to discuss the matter but added the company still plans to assemble EVs in the US at its West Point, GA, plant.
New electric models en route
In May, Kia’s first three-row electric EV9 SUV rolled off the assembly line, a major milestone as the first EV built in Georgia.
The EV9 has helped push Kia to what looks like another record sales year in the US. With another 1,941 models sold in the US last month, Kia EV9 sales reached nearly 18,000 through the first ten months of the year.
Kia calls the EV9’s sub-$55,000 starting price tag a “wake-up call” for the industry. Meanwhile, even more affordable Kia EV models are on the way.
| 2025 Kia EV9 Trim | Starting Price* |
| Light Standard Range | $54,900 |
| Light Long Range | $59,900 |
| Wind | $63,900 |
| Land | $69,900 |
| GT-Line | $73,900 |
As part of its “EV for all strategy,” Kia is launching a series of low-cost models. The EV3, Kia’s compact electric SUV, is already generating strong demand in Korea. The company has called it a potential “game changer” in its home market.
The EV3 starts at just $30,700 (KRW 42.08 million) in Korea with up to 375 miles (605 km) driving range. With incentives, the electric SUV can be bought for under $30,000 (KRW 39.95 million).
Kia just launched the EV3 in Europe with “segment-leading range” of up to 375 miles (WLTP). Prices in Europe start at around 36,000 euros ($38,300). The electric SUV has been on sale in the UK since August, starting at £32,995 ($42,500).
Next year, Kia is launching the EV4, its take on an entry-level electric sedan. Despite its four-door design, Kia claims the EV4 is “an entirely new type of EV sedan.”
Its low-riding, wide stance gives off a sports car-like feel. It’s expected to start at around $35,000 to $40,000. Ahead of its debut, the EV4 was spotted in hatchback form on US streets for the first time last week.
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Environment
U.S. crude oil falls below $60 a barrel to lowest since 2021 on tariff-fueled recession fears
A view shows disused oil pump jacks at the Airankol oil field operated by Caspiy Neft in the Atyrau Region, Kazakhstan April 2, 2025.
Pavel Mikheyev | Reuters
U.S. oil prices dropped below $60 a barrel on Sunday on fears President Donald Trump’s global tariffs would push the U.S., and maybe the world, into a recession.
Futures tied to U.S. West Texas intermediate crude fell more than 3% to $59.74 on Sunday night. The move comes after back-to-back 6% declines last week. WTI is now at the lowest since April 2021.
Worries are mounting that tariffs could lead to higher prices for businesses, which could lead to a slowdown in economic activity that would ultimately hurt demand for oil.
Oil futures, 5 years
The tariffs, which are set to take effect this week, “would likely push the U.S. and possibly global economy into recession this year,” according to JPMorgan. The firm on Thursday raised its odds of a recession this year to 60% following the tariff rollout, up from 40%.
Fueled by incentives from the Illinois EPA and the state’s largest utility company, new EV registrations nearly quadrupled the 12% first-quarter increase in EV registrations nationally – and there are no signs the state is slowing down.
Despite the dramatic slowdown of Tesla’s US deliveries, sales of electric vehicles overall have perked up in recent months, with Illinois’ EV adoption rate well above the Q1 uptick nationally. Crain’s Chicago Business reports that the number of new EVs registered across the state totaled 9,821 January through March, compared with “just” 6,535 EVs registered in the state during the same period in 2024.
Those numbers represent more than 50% growth in EV registrations – far beyond the expected 12% first-quarter increase nationally being projected by Cox Automotive. (!)
What’s going on in Illinois?
While President Trump and Elmo were running for re-election, they campaigned on the threat promise of canceling the $7,500 federal tax credit for EVs. Along with California Governor Gavin Newsom, Illinois’ Governor JB Pritzker made countermoves – launching a $4,000 rebate for new electric cars and up to $1,500 for the purchase of a new electric motorcycle.
At the same time, the state’s largest utility, ComEd, launched a $90 million EV incentive program featuring a new Point of Purchase initiative to deliver instant discounts to qualifying business and public sector customers who make the switch to electric vehicles. That program has driven a surge in Class 3-6 medium duty commercial EVs, which are eligible fro $20-30,000 in utility rebates on top of federal tax credits and other incentives (Class 1-2 EVs are eligible for up to $7,500).
We covered the launch of those incentives when the program was announced at Chicago Drives Electric last year, but the message here is simple: incentives work.
SOURCES: Chicago Business, Ray Cunningham; featured image by the author.
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The electric construction equipment experts at XCMG just released a new, 25 ton electric crawler excavator ahead of bauma 2025 – and they have their eye on the global urban construction, mine operations, and logistical material handling markets.
Powered by a high-capacity 400 kWh lithium iron phosphate battery capable of delivering up to 8 hours of continuous operation, the XE215EV electric excavator promises uninterrupted operation at a lower cost of ownership and with even less downtime than its diesel counterparts.
XCMG is delivering on part of that reduced downtime promise with the lower maintenance and easier repair needs of electric equipment, and delivering on the rest of it with lickety-quick DC fast charging that can recharge the machine’s massive battery in 1.5-2 hours … but that’s not the slick bit. The XCMG XE125EV can be powered up without leaving the job site thanks to its BYD battery swap technology.
We first covered XCMG and its battery swap technology back in January, and covered similar battery-swap tech being developed by MOOG Construction offshoot ZQUIP, as well – but while XCMG’s battery tech has been in production for several years, it’s still not widely known about in the West (even within the industry).
XCMG showed off its latest electric equipment at the December 2024 bauma China, including an updated version of its of its 85-ton autonomous electric mining truck that features a fully cab-less design – meaning there isn’t even a place for an operator to sit, let alone operate. And that’s too bad, because what operator wouldn’t want to experience an electric truck putting down 1070 hp more than 16,000 lb-ft of torque!?
Easy in, easy out
The best part? All of the company’s heavy equipment assets – from excavators to terminal tractors to dump trucks and wheel loaders – all use the same 400 kWh BYD battery packs, Milwaukee tool style. That means an equipment fleet can utilize x number of vehicles with a fraction of the total battery capacity and material needs of other asset brands. That’s not just a smart use of limited materials, it’s a smarter use of energy.
You can check out all the XE215EV’s specs at this tear sheet, and get an in-person look at the Chinese company’s latest electric excavator this week in Munich, Germany.
SOURCE | IMAGES: XCMG.
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