Kia seeks to supply 1,000 PBVs to Japan’s MK Holdings, starting with 40 PV5s this year

[Financial News] Kia is pursuing a plan to supply a total of 1,000 purpose-built vehicles (PBVs) to Japanese taxi operator MK Holdings by 2030.
On the 3rd, Kia said it had signed an MOU with MK Holdings to first deliver 40 PV5s by the end of this year and then increase the number.
The MOU was signed recently at Kia’s headquarters in Seocho-gu, Seoul. Kia Vice President Sangdae Kim, head of its PBV Business Division, and MK Holdings President Nobuaki Aoki, among others, attended. The agreement involves three companies: Kia, MK Holdings and Kia PBV Japan Corporation.
Centered on MK Taxi, MK Holdings operates mobility services, including taxis and tour buses, in eight Japanese cities, including Kyoto, Osaka and Nagoya. The company plans to use PBVs for taxis, premium chauffeured services and airport pickups, and to expand their deployment based on its long-standing expertise in taxi operations and its customer base.
Kia plans to supply 40 PV5s by the end of this year, then gradually scale up deliveries, with a goal of supplying 1,000 in total by 2030. Four PV5s are currently operating in Kyoto.
The Japan-spec PV5 comes standard with CHAdeMO charging, which is widely used locally. Kia said the vehicle has a 2,995-mm wheelbase to provide ample interior space while keeping its turning radius to 5.5 meters, making it easier to maneuver in narrow streets and parking situations. Along with supplying the vehicles, Kia will also handle local maintenance, technical support and parts supply.
Kia PBV Japan Corporation is responsible for sales in Japan and building its service network. It is a local subsidiary established last year with 100% investment from Sojitz, a Japanese general trading company, for Kia’s PBV business in Japan. The three companies will also hold vehicle displays and test-drive programs at MK Holdings’ sales facilities.
Citing the Japanese government’s carbon-neutrality policy, which aims to make electrified vehicles account for up to 30% of new sales of commercial vehicles weighing 8 tons or less by 2030, Kia plans to target the expected growth in demand for small and midsize electrified commercial vehicles.
Vice President Sangdae Kim said, “This MOU is a starting point for strategic cooperation to jointly explore new possibilities for using PBVs in the Japanese market, going beyond simply supplying vehicles. By combining Kia’s competitive PBV products, MK Holdings’ experience in the mobility business and Kia PBV Japan Corporation’s local operating capabilities, we will expand our partnership so that we can provide customers with the value of new mobility.”
[email protected] Dongchan Kim Reporter