Assembled Like Lego... Kia Targets 'PBV' Market with Dedicated Factory and Conversion Center

[Financial News]  "There is a great need for mobility that can be customized according to purpose. PBV is a platform beyond vehicles."
Joo Seok-ha, Senior Vice President of Kia's R&D Division, stated this at 'The Kia PV5 Tech Day' held at the Ibex Studio in Gwangmyeong, Gyeonggi on the 22nd. On this day, Kia introduced the PBV ecosystem construction and the module technology of Kia's first PBV vehicle, 'PV5', revealing a blueprint for the future PBV market.

Kia is set to lead the purpose-built vehicle (PBV) market by expanding production bases starting with the launch of PV5. The official launch of PV5 is scheduled for the second half of this year, and a dedicated PBV factory capable of producing 150,000 units annually is being established at Autoland in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi.
Another pillar is the 'PBV Conversion Center'. By partnering with external collaborators with expertise, Kia aims to develop various conversion models, expanding the PBV ecosystem. This approach not only meets diverse demands but also addresses issues of low quality and high cost that arise when customers modify vehicles on their own through standardized design.
Lee Si-young, Head Manager of Kia's PBV Conversion Development Team, stated, "We are incorporating designs that allow for conversion into vehicles to address limitations such as waste, A/S issues, and reduced safety that occur when customers modify vehicles themselves." Additionally, design confirmation for each conversion model will be conducted to ensure design consistency with the base vehicle.


The most significant feature of PV5 is the introduction of the 'Flexible Body System', which allows for extensive customization. The Flexible Body System modularizes key components such as the body, moving parts like doors and tailgates, and both exterior and interior components, enabling flexible development and production of various specifications. The body lineup can be expanded to up to 16 types, and the interior offers 7 side trim configurations, allowing for over 100 possible combinations.

At the event, various PV5 models assembled for different purposes such as campers, taxis for the disabled, and logistics vans were showcased. Each vehicle was assembled on the same platform but had completely different forms and internal configurations depending on the purpose.
In particular, technologies centered on real users, such as flat decks, walk-through spaces, wheelchair lifts, electric scooter boarding aids, and pet modes, were applied in various ways, demonstrating how flexibly PV5's module technology can respond to practical living environments.
Lee Hae-hoon, Senior Researcher at Kia's MSV Body Design 1 Team, explained, "Through a body concept assembled like Lego blocks, various space configurations can be tailored to customer needs," adding that "the length and height can also be freely expanded."
 
security@fnnews.com Reporter Park Kyung-ho