Van-tastic

Kia has scored a major breakthrough in the commercial vehicle world as its first fully electric van, the PV5, received the 2026 International Van of the Year award. The recognition was handed out during the IVOTY Award Gala at SOLUTRANS 2025 in Lyon after a unanimous vote from 26 commercial vehicle journalists from around the globe.

Introduced as the inaugural model under Kia’s Platform Beyond Vehicle lineup, the PV5 stood out for its mix of innovation, efficiency, safety and real-world usability. It also became the first Korean model and Asia’s first electric van to win the award, marking a historic achievement for the brand.

The van runs on Kia’s dedicated E-GMP.S platform and offers an electric range of up to 416 km for the Cargo Long variant. Fast charging from 10 to 80 percent can be done in about 30 minutes, while its payload capacity reaches 790 kg. The PV5 also holds a Guinness World Records title for covering 693.38 km on a single charge while fully loaded.

Its design focuses on flexibility, featuring a flat-floor layout and modular upper-body configurations suited for logistics, delivery and passenger transport. Inside, operators get next-generation features like a built-in AI assistant, fleet management tools and an app marketplace.

Kia says the PV5 is just the start, with more PBV models arriving from 2026 including a Chassis Cab, Cargo Standard and High Roof versions, alongside larger PBVs like the PV7 and PV9.