Kia EV5 is sadly not coming to the US, but it will arrive next door with an NACS port
Although we were pulling for it, Kia’s affordable EV5 electric SUV will not arrive in the US. In a rare move, Kia is planning to launch the entry-level EV next door in Canada next year, and it will even include an NACS port for charging at Tesla Superchargers.
Kia will launch the EV5 in Canada but not the US
We got our first look at the EV5 when it made its global debut at the Chengdu Motor Show in China in August 2023.
The EV5 was showcased during Kia’s first annual EV Day later that year, alongside the EV3 and EV4 concepts. The new models are part of Kia’s entry-level EV lineup as it expands into the mass market.
Although we were hoping Kia would bring the EV5 to the US, it doesn’t look like that will happen. Kia announced it will launch the EV5 “exclusively for the Canadian market in North America.” The electric SUV is expected to arrive at dealerships across Canada in 2026.
“Upon launch, EV5 will mark an important milestone as we introduce this vehicle as an affordable option” in Canada’s most significant segment, David Sherrard, Kia Canada’s director of strategic planning, said.
The EV5 will also feature a native North American Charging Standard (NACS) port for charging at Tesla Superchargers. Kia said the port will allow owners to access 61% more DC fast chargers.
Kia’s smaller SUV will be available in FWD and AWD powertrains with two battery sizes: 60.3 kWh and 81.4 kWh.
Although more information, including prices and specs, will be revealed closer to launch, the EV5 is expected to start at around $40,000 to $50,000 and have a range of up to 300 miles.
Kia will introduce the EV5 at the Canadian International Auto Show on February 14. Stay tuned for prices and additional specs.
Electrek’s Take
Why would Kia launch the EV5 in Canada, with a Tesla NACS port, and not the US? There could be several reasons. For one, it’s not made in the US, meaning it wouldn’t qualify for the $7,500 federal tax credit, putting it at a disadvantage to domestic rivals.
On the other hand, America loves bigger SUVs and trucks. Kia already has the three-row EV9, which sold over 22,000 units in 2024. The smaller EV6, which has been on the market since 2022, had 21,715 in sales.
The EV5 is already a hit in China, where it was first launched. Despite an intensifying price war, Kia’s low-cost electric SUV has helped the company turn things around in the world’s largest EV market.
Weda Kia, Kia’s joint venture in China, sold more than 248,200 vehicles last year, up nearly 50% from 2023. This was also Kia’s first time crossing the 200K sales mark since 2020. The biggest reason was the EV5. After selling 26,550 vehicles in June, Kia sold over 20,000 units every month through the end of 2024.
Kia launched the EV5 in China in November 2023, starting at just 149,800 yuan, or around $20,000. Not only did it hit the market at a lower price than expected, but it also undercut several top sellers, including Tesla’s Model Y, starting at 249,900 yuan ($35,000).
At 4,615 mm long, 1,875 mm wide, and 1,715 mm tall, the EV5 is about the size of a Tesla Model Y (4,760 mm long x 1,921 mm wide x 1,624 mm tall).
Tesla’s Model Y was again the best-selling EV in the US last year by a wide margin. With over 372,600 units sold, the Model Y accounted for 28.6% of the market, according to Cox Automotive data.
So why wouldn’t Kia bring the EV5 to the US? Would you buy one for around $40,000 to $50,000? Let us know in the comments.
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.
New York-based real estate developer LeFrak has installed the largest rooftop solar array on a high-rise multifamily residential building in New Jersey.
The Beach, a 336-unit waterfront rental tower in Jersey City’s Newport neighborhood, now hosts a 180kW, 450-panel rooftop solar system that will offset 13% of the building’s carbon emissions, equivalent to removing 37 gas-powered cars from the road annually. Sunkeeper Solar, a Brooklyn-based solar energy company, installed the nearly $1 million system.
The new rooftop solar offsets energy produced by electrical systems used in The Beach’s common area spaces, including those that power elevators and lighting, as well as cooling and ventilation in the high-rise building’s lobby and amenities. The Beach’s roof design and the building’s orientation optimize the amount of solar power generated by the system.
“Solar makes sense on multi-family buildings, and especially because Jersey City is vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, projects like this should become the bar for new development. Going solar saves consumers money, reduces air pollution, and creates a more resilient energy grid – solar is a double green amenity,” said Doug O’Malley, director of Environment New Jersey.
Last year, LeFrak partnered with EV-sharing platform Envoy to offer Newport residents exclusive car-sharing benefits and access to a fleet of on-site electric vehicles, representing Envoy’s first expansion into New Jersey.
Read more: A record $847M raise powers a commercial rooftop solar wave
To limit power outages and make your home more resilient, consider going solar with a battery storage system. In order to 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 you 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*
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.
It’s official. Kia has now confirmed plans to launch the EV2 next January. The electric SUV will be an even smaller, more affordable model to sit below the EV3.
Kia confirms EV2 will launch in January 2026
Kia is on an EV launch spree. After revealing three new mass-market EV models, the EV3, EV4, and EV5, in October 2023, the Korean automaker is preparing to launch a fourth.
The new lineup is part of Kia’s “EVs for all” strategy, with prices ranging from $30,000 to upwards of $80,000. Kia launched the EV5 in China, starting at around $20,000 (149,800 yuan) in November 2023. Last year, Kia followed it up with the EV3, which is now rolling out in Europe for around $38,000 (36,000 euros).
Kia will introduce the EV4 globally this year, or what it calls “an entirely new type of sedan.” Depending on the market, it’s expected to start at around $30,000 to $40,000 as a potential Tesla Model 3 challenger.
On the company’s Q4 and full-year 2024 earnings call this week, Kia confirmed plans to launch the EV2 in January 2026. The EV2 will be built at its Zilina, Slovakia plant, Kia’s first manufacturing facility in Europe.
Although it was not showcased during its 2023 EV day, Kia CEO Ho-Sung Song told Autocar that the EV2 would go on sale in 2026 with a target price of around $30,000 (£25,000) in Europe. In Korea, prices could start as low as $15,000 (KRW 20 million).
Kia’s CEO stressed that building affordable EVs is “very important” for the brand. It will also help “the European market that is in need of smaller [electric] vehicles too,” Song added.
Ahead of its official debut, the EV2 has been caught in public testing a few times, revealing a Soul-like design. You can expect an exterior look similar to the EV3 and EV5, featuring Kia’s new Opposites United design.
Like other models in the lineup, it’s expected to feature Kia’s new Connected Car Navigation Cockpit (ccNC) operating system inside. The setup includes a dual 12.3″ driver display and infotainment screens.
Like the EV3 and EV5, the EV2 is expected to be based on Hyundai’s E-GMP platform, providing over 300 miles (605 km WLTP) of range.
Earlier today, we learned that Kia will launch the EV5 in Canada next year, but not in the US. The EV5 will even include a native NACS port for charging at Tesla Superchargers. So, for those of you in the US, don’t get too excited. Given the lack of demand for smaller cars, the EV2 is not expected to arrive in the US. Hopefully, Kia will surprise us.
Source: TheKoreanCarBlog, Kia
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.
Environment
Podcast: Tesla earnings were wild, new BMW iX, some EVs won’t make it to the US, and more
In the Electrek Podcast, we discuss the most popular news in the world of sustainable transport and energy. In this week’s episode, we discuss Tesla’s wild Q4 earnings, a new BMW iX, some EVs not making it to the US, and more.
The show is live every Friday at 4 p.m. ET on Electrek’s YouTube channel.
As a reminder, we’ll have an accompanying post, like this one, on the site with an embedded link to the live stream. Head to the YouTube channel to get your questions and comments in.
After the show ends at around 5 p.m. ET, the video will be archived on YouTube and the audio on all your favorite podcast apps:
We now have a Patreon if you want to help us avoid more ads and invest more in our content. We have some awesome gifts for our Patreons and more coming.
Here are a few of the articles that we will discuss during the podcast:
Here’s the live stream for today’s episode starting at 4:00 p.m. ET (or the video after 5 p.m. ET):
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.
-
Sports2 years ago‘Storybook stuff’: Inside the night Bryce Harper sent the Phillies to the World Series
-
Sports10 months agoStory injured on diving stop, exits Red Sox game
-
Sports1 year agoGame 1 of WS least-watched in recorded history
-
Sports2 years agoMLB Rank 2023: Ranking baseball’s top 100 players
-
Sports3 years ago
Team Europe easily wins 4th straight Laver Cup
-
Environment2 years agoJapan and South Korea have a lot at stake in a free and open South China Sea
-
Environment2 years agoGame-changing Lectric XPedition launched as affordable electric cargo bike
-
Business2 years agoBank of England’s extraordinary response to government policy is almost unthinkable | Ed Conway