South Korea’s number-2 automaker Kia unveiled its electric car EV6 on Tuesday, giving a tough competition to Tesla powered by Elon Musk. It is the company’s first all-electric model built on a dedicated platform, which can travel more than 500 kilometers on a single charge.
The EV6 costs around 45 million to 55 million Von ($ 40,000 and $ 48,500), similar to Tesla’s entry-level all-electric sedan.
At an online world premiere event, South Korea’s No. 2 carmakers showcased its crossover EV6 based on the electric global modular platform (E-GMP) of its parent company Hyundai Motor Group, used for the Hyundai Ionic 5 last month Gaya is a single platform.
The EV6 is the first electric car to come under Kia’s plan for those 11 fully electric vehicles (EVs) that the company has prepared for its EV drive by 2026. The automaker’s other EV models are the Nero and Sol, which are offered with gas and hybrid variants.
Kia president Song Ho-sung said during an online press briefing, “The EV6 is the first model, on behalf of Kia, to transform itself from a vehicle manufacturer to an innovative mobility solutions provider (Innovative Mobility Solutions Provider) Has come after the announcement of his vision. ”
“The EV6 is a symbolic model developed under Kia’s medium and long-term plan, which will increase the proportion of eco-friendly models to 40 percent of total sales by 2030,” he said.
According to a report by the Yonhap news agency, this model will offer two battery pack options. One option will be available with the standard 58-kWh-hour (kWh) battery, while the other option will be available with a long-range 77.4 kWh.
The company said that the long-range model with an 800-volt system can travel more than 510 kilometers on a single charge, which exceeds the Ionic 5’s 430-km driving range. Apart from this, it also has the capacity to charge up to 80 percent of the battery in just 18 minutes.
The EV6 offers a great interior with more space than other EVs.
The company said that its target is to sell 30,000 units globally this year and target to sell 100,000 units next year.