Kia just built its first EV in Europe
The EV4 is here. Kia’s first European-made EV rolled off the line in Slovakia on Tuesday, kicking off a bigger push that includes new electric SUVs, cars, vans, and more.
The EV4 is the first Kia EV to be built in Europe
Kia is bringing back the hatch. The EV4 is Kia’s first attempt at an electric hatchback, and now, it’s the brand’s first EV built in Europe.
“The start of production is a huge milestone for us,” Kia Europe’s CEO, Marc Hedrich, said on Tuesday. He added, “From 20 August, Slovakia will build fully electric cars alongside models with hybrid and internal combustion powertrains.”
The Slovakia plant is Kia’s sole manufacturing facility in Europe and will serve as a cornerstone as the company looks to gain market share in the region. It already accounts for about 1% of Kia’s total global output.
Kia invested 108 million euros ($125 million) to upgrade the facility for EV production, including a new battery conveyor.
The EV4 hatchback is available with two battery packs: 58.3 kWh or 81.4 kWh, offering a WLTP range of up to 391 miles. It’s also equipped with new features, such as V2L (Vehicle-to-Load) and V2G (Vehicle-to-Grid).
Based on Hyundai’s E-GMP platform, the EV4 hatchback measures 4,430 mm in length, 1,860 mm in width, and 1,485 mm in height, roughly the same size as the Kia XCreed.
In the UK, the base EV4 Air Standard Range starts at £34,695 ($47,700), while the longer range model is priced from £37,695 ($51,700).
| Kia EV4 hatchback trim | Starting Price | Driving Range (WLTP) |
| Air Standard Range | £34,695 ($47,700) | 273 miles |
| Air Long Range | £37,695 ($51,700) | 388 miles |
| GT-Line | £39,395 ($54,000) | 362 miles |
| GT-Line S | £43,895 ($60,200) | 362 miles |
Kia also launched the EV4 Fastback, or sedan version, last month, starting at £40,895 ($55,000) with a WLTP driving range of up to 380 miles.
Unlike the hatchback, the Fastback variant will be made at Kia’s Autoland Gwangmyeong EVO plant in South Korea.
The EV3 is already the UK’s top-selling EV through the first half of the year. Following the EV4 hatch and Fastback, Kia will introduce the EV5 in Europe later this year, followed by the entry-level EV2 in 2026.
Kia is also launching its first electric van, the PV5, which is quickly rolling out to new European markets this year. The PV5 will initially be launched in Passenger and Cargo variants, but Kia plans to introduce seven different body styles, including a light camper and an open bed model.
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Environment
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Tesla has started offering leases of certified pre-owned cars, which is relatively rare in the industry, with $0 down as it desperately tries to move vehicles before the end of the quarter.
With the federal tax credit for electric vehicles set to expire at the end of the quarter, automakers in the US are all trying to optimize EV sales, as demand is being pulled forward.
This also applies to used EVs, as the $4,000 federal incentive for used electric vehicles will also expire on September 30th.
Now, leasing used vehicles is much less common than leasing new cars, but some automakers, or mainly dealers, do offer it.
Tesla is getting into this business for the first time.
In California and Texas, Tesla is now offering leases on certified pre-owned (aka used) Model 3 and Model Y vehicles.
These are reasonably priced and can be as low as $215 per month with $0 down for a 24-month lease and 10,000 miles per year.
Tesla also offers a 12-month lease and up to 15,000 miles annually. While there’s no down payment needed, there’s an “Acquisition Fee” of $695.
That, and the first month, is all you need to get in a used Tesla for the next year or two.
This is undoubtedly the cheapest way to get into a Tesla vehicle right now.
Tesla is trying to sell as many vehicles as possible in the US this quarter, as demand for EVs has been pulled forward due to the end of the tax credit. This is expected to result in a record quarter in the US, but it also going to create a few difficult ones in the future.
With demand being pulled forward and future buyers feeling like they missed out on EV discounts, the US EV market is expected to experience a significant slowdown over the next 12 to 18 months.
Tesla sales are down about 13% globally so far this year. While this quarter is expected to be better, many analysts still anticipate Tesla’s year-over-year performance to be down.
This year alone, Tesla added more than 50,000 electric vehicles to its inventory.
Used cars have also been piling up.
Tesla owners rushed to sell their vehicles as Tesla’s brand perception dived following its CEO’s involvement in politics.
We previously reported that the average used Tesla sale price has recently dipped below the overall average used car sale price in the US.
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Danish equipment makers HG build job site dumpers that help move sand, rocks, debris, construction waste, and building supplies across rugged, uneven urban job sites. And with the introduction of their newest E3000 model, they’re helping move more than three tons of that stuff without emissions and — just as crucially — without noise.
HG announced the E3000 electric site dumper just this week, adding the new 3 tonne capacity to its growing lineup of 1 and 2 tonne dumpers (that’s over 6,600 lbs., in “landed on the Moon” units). With a 180° swivel tip on the bucket as standard equipment and an optional high tip version available at launch, it should be able to handle just about anything a hard working construction crew can throw at it.
“With the HG E3000, we once again prove that electric dumpers are not only better for people and the environment. They are also more efficient, cheaper to operate, and can run more than a full working day on a single charge,” explains Nikolaj Birkerod, CEO of HG, told Power Progress. “With 3 tonne dumpers, we are proving, as we already have with 2 tonne dumpers, that we can deliver on both performance and reliability while enabling customers to save 15% per operating hour compared to a diesel dumper.”
Exact specs haven’t been released, but HG claims the E3000’s 29 kWh is good for 12 full hours of continuous, loaded operation, and that it can be fully recharged on a “standard” 220 charger (L2) in about four hours. If you’re curious about what has been released, I’ve got all that for you right here:
The only all-electric dumper on the market that gives you 12 working hours while carrying 3 tonnes payload.
Our latest addition to accelerate 100% machinery:
- 3-ton payload for high-capacity material handling
- 12-hour working – a full day’s work without recharging
- Optional high tip for quick and flexible unloading into containers and trucks
- 180° swivel tip as standard for precise placement of loads
- Fast charging: 0–100% in approx. 4 hours with the integrated charger
- Lithium 29 kWh battery with automatic heating for all-season use
- One-pedal drive for smooth and intuitive operation
The E3000 is built for contractors and rental companies who demand maximum productivity without compromising on environmental responsibility.
With a carrying capacity of 3 tonnes and an industry-leading 12 hours of effective runtime on a single charge, it’s proof that heavy-duty work and zero emissions can go hand in hand.
At the heart of the E3000 is HG’s patented articulated drivetrain with four independent in-wheel motors. This unique design delivers the most energy-efficient power transfer in the industry, using significantly less power than conventional electric system. This translates directly into lower operating costs and more hours on site between charges.
No word yet on pricing or whether or not the new dumper will eventually be sold outside the European market, but we do know that HG plans to deliver the first examples of its new machine to customers by early 2026.
Electrek’s Take
While there are a lot of people outside the urban construction space who may scoff at environmental concerns, the quest for improved efficiency and cost reduction among commercial fleet managers knows no political ideology. Add in more restrictive noise regulations and the side benefits of improved job site safety and fewer sick days, and electric equipment is a no-brainer.
Simply put: If it’s better or cheaper, fleets will buy it. If it’s better and cheaper, they’ll buy two — and battery powered equipment is proving to be consistently better, in a broader scope of use cases, than diesel.
SOURCES | IMAGES: HG Machines, Power Progress.
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