Kia is planning to launch a new compact electric vehicle (EV) hatchback in Europe next year. According to the company’s announcements during its CEO Investor Day, the new EV is part of a strategy to boost EV sales in the region by the end of the decade.
For now, there is no name for the new EV just yet. However, Kia has officially addressed it as its upcoming ‘B-Hatch’ — possibly called the EV1. The car will be similarly sized to the EV2, but packaged in a lower form in contrast to the more upright EV2.
Set to compete with cars such as the Renault 5 and Peugeot e-208, two very successful compact EV hatchbacks in the region, Kia says its upcoming B-Hatch EV will be the first SDV (software-defined vehicle) in its segment and is set to launch by 2027.
While Kia hasn’t said much about it, reports from Autocar suggest the model will ride on the same 400V E-GMP platform as the EV2. It is also expected to share battery options, likely offering 42.2 kWh and 61 kWh packs. As a result, the range is estimated to span from approximately 200 miles (322 km) to 300 miles (483 km) for longer-range variants. Pricing could start from around GBP20,000 (approximately RM101k), positioning it competitively against rivals in the same segment.
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The new B-Hatch is just one piece of a much larger product roadmap. In total, Kia plans to introduce 14 new vehicles by the end of the decade. This includes two “passenger models”, nine SUVs, and three “purpose-built vehicles” (PBV) aimed at commercial use, reflecting the brand’s increasingly diversified approach to mobility.
According to Autocar, one of the SUVs will be a new flagship EV SUV. Set to launch in 2029, the company says it will build “on its SUV heritage to drive trade-up demand from Sportage HEV and PHEV, as well as high-trim EV5 customers”.
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In Europe, Kia is targeting annual sales of 746,000 units and a 4.8% market share by 2030. This growth will be driven by an expanded full-EV lineup alongside the introduction of its Platform Beyond Vehicle (PBV) strategy.
According to Kia’s chief executive officer (CEO), Ho Sung Song, demand for internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles is expected to persist through 2030, partly due to the easing of emissions regulations in the region. Autocar reports that EVs are still forecasted to account for roughly 43% of total vehicle sales by 2030. Kia, however, is plotting to outperform the market average with a 66% EV sales mix.
Closer to home, which Kia calls ‘Emerging Markets’, including India, Mexico, Asia Pacific, Africa and Middle East, South America and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) regions, Kia plans to grow annual sales to 1.48 million units by 2030, up from one million units in 2025, while targeting a 6.6% market share.
As part of this push, Kia aims to expand its lineup in India to 10 models, eight of which will be electrified (xEV). These include models such as the Syros EV, Kia Sorento HEV, and Kia Carnival HEV, alongside efforts to grow its local dealer network. The company is also strengthening supply flexibility through increased local production and expanded CKD operations in markets like Mexico, India, and China.
While Kia has yet to specifically mention Malaysia or the wider Southeast Asian market. However, its broader push for electrified models in emerging regions suggests we could see a wave of new hybrid and electrified offerings arrive locally in the coming years. Perhaps we could also see a bunch of new hybridised vehicles introduced in Malaysia within the next few years.
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