Kia has crossed the 100,000 electric vehicle sales mark in the United Kingdom, becoming the first Korean automaker to reach the milestone. The 100,000th unit, an EV5 GT-Line S in Iceberg Green, was registered to a retail customer on March 11, 2026. As of April 1, cumulative UK EV sales stand at 104,794 units.
Highlights
- First Korean brand to 100,000 UK EV sales, achieved roughly 11.5 years after the original Soul EV went on sale in November 2014.
- Niro EV exits the UK market after 7.5 years and more than 51,000 sales, accounting for over half of Kia’s total EV volume.
- EV2 arrives as Kia’s most affordable electric model, starting below £25,000 (approximately $33,500 USD) with a manufacturer-estimated range of up to 281 miles.
- Kia now offers 11 EV variants in the UK, spanning urban SUVs, family hatchbacks, seven-seat SUVs, and light commercial vehicles.
From Soul EV to 100,000 Sales
Kia’s UK electrification story began modestly. The first-generation Soul EV launched in November 2014 with a 27.0 kWh battery and a range of up to 132 miles. Initially, the company expected to sell between 100 and 200 units in its first full year, with only 13 specially trained dealers offering the vehicle.
The e-Niro, introduced in April 2019, changed the trajectory. It offered 282 miles of range on a family-friendly platform and became an immediate hit. By the end of 2020, annual EV sales had grown nearly tenfold year over year, reaching 7,426 units.
EV6 and the Dedicated Platform Era
The EV6, revealed in March 2021, marked Kia’s first model built on Hyundai Motor Group’s 800V Electric-Global Modular Platform (E-GMP). UK order books opened in May 2021, and the model was named European Car of the Year in February 2022.
The EV9 followed in 2023, targeting the seven-seat electric SUV segment. It earned UK Car of the Year and World Car of the Year honors in 2024. The EV3, a more affordable dedicated EV, launched in 2024 and repeated the same back-to-back global wins the following year.
2025: Nine New Models in One Year
Kia launched nine models in the UK during 2025, its busiest year in 35 years of UK operations. New additions included the EV4 (in hatchback and Fastback variants) and the PV5, the brand’s first electric commercial vehicle.
The PV5 set a Guinness World Record for the greatest distance traveled by a light-duty battery-powered electric van with maximum payload on a single charge, covering 693.38 km. It was subsequently named International Van of the Year 2026.
Additionally, the EV4 hatchback became the first Kia EV manufactured at the brand’s Žilina plant in Slovakia, marking the start of European EV production for the company.
Niro EV Bows Out After 51,000 Sales
The Niro EV and its predecessor, the e-Niro, are no longer available in the UK. All existing orders have been fulfilled. Electric variants of the Niro accounted for more than 51,000 of Kia’s 100,000 EV sales over a 7.5-year run.
The e-Niro was the first EV and first Korean car to be named overall Car of the Year by What Car? in 2019. The Niro continues to be offered in the UK as a hybrid and plug-in hybrid. Meanwhile, the EV3 has taken more than 15,000 orders since its 2024 launch, covering the segment the Niro EV leaves behind.
EV2 and the Road Ahead
Kia announced UK pricing for the EV2 at the start of April 2026. The compact SUV starts below £25,000 (approximately $33,500 USD) and offers a manufacturer-estimated range of up to 281 miles on a single charge. Reservations are open now, with deliveries expected later this year.
Note: The 281-mile range figure is a manufacturer estimate based on the WLTP test cycle and has not been EPA-certified. Actual range may vary.
The EV2 debuted at the Brussels Motor Show alongside GT variants of the EV3, EV4, and EV5. Designed, developed, and manufactured exclusively for Europe, it is Kia’s smallest EV offered in the region.
Next in the pipeline is the PV7, a larger commercial vehicle set to arrive in 2027, followed by the PV9 in 2029.
Paul Philpott, President and CEO of Kia UK, said: “The milestone of reaching 100,000 EV sales is a significant landmark for Kia UK, having launched our first EV 12 years ago this year. In a relatively short space of time, we have gone from strength to strength steadily building our EV line-up, and have seen customer demand increase in line with our product desirability.”
Philpott added: “We now have one of the industry’s most complete EV line-ups and have reached this landmark achievement, further cementing ourselves as a leading player in the EV market.”
He also credited Kia’s 190-strong dealer network for adapting to EV demand alongside the company’s combustion and hybrid range.
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