Hyundai Motor is working on the development of several city models in the A-segment

If everything goes to plan, the Kia EV1, a small electric city car, will reach the market in 2028 with a starting price of around 20,000 euros. But it won’t be the only launch from the South Korean group in the A-segment: it will be joined by a version of this same model with the Hyundai badge, which could be called IONIQ 1. Both models promise to set new benchmarks in intelligent capabilities and advanced technology compared with the competition.

This information is not mere speculation; it comes from statements to the media by Ted Lee, Kia’s executive vice president and head of Global Operations. In his own words, Kia and Hyundai are working together on a new electric architecture specifically for affordable city cars. The executive also revealed the planned launch date for the first vehicle to debut on this new platform and its target price.

The Kia EV1 will be the first software-defined vehicle from the South Korean manufacturer. It will incorporate cutting-edge technologies, such as autonomous driving systems on motorways, which is somewhat curious for a model that is fundamentally urban, representing a significant leap in the brand’s strategy. Kia is already separating hardware and software development to shorten production cycles and reduce costs, an evolution that will also extend to its larger models.

Slow but sure

Kia has been working on the EV1 for roughly two years, and the South Korean manufacturer estimates it will need another two before this new electric city car reaches the market. These four years in total to complete development contrast with the speed at which Chinese manufacturers tackle similar projects. Kia justifies this, however, by stating that it will offer a superior level of quality and technological maturity, and that this is why it needs a little more time.

As we have already mentioned, after the Kia EV1 will come the equivalent model from Hyundai, which would replace the recently discontinued combustion-engined i10 and perhaps also the electric Inster. For its part, the EV1 will occupy the place of the Picanto in Kia’s range, whose current petrol model has been on the market since 2017, with a restyling in 2023.

With the arrival of the EV1, Kia’s electric vehicle range will total six models: the already established EV3, EV6 and EV9, along with the more recent EV5 and EV2.