At first glance, the Kia PV5 might look like just another electric van. But the moment Kia opened orders for the PV5 Open Bed — essentially an electric pickup variant — it became clear this vehicle is playing a very different game. Starting at around $30,000 in South Korea, and dropping to roughly $20,800 with subsidies, the PV5 Open Bed is less about lifestyle bravado and more about practical, modular mobility.
Built on Kia’s new Platform Beyond Vehicle (PBV) strategy, the PV5 isn’t a single product so much as a flexible system. From passenger and cargo vans to refrigerated trucks, wheelchair-accessible models, and now an open-bed pickup, Kia is betting that the future of commercial EVs is customization, not one-size-fits-all designs. That thinking has already paid off, with the PV5 earning the 2026 International Van of the Year award — a first for a Korean brand.
As a pickup, the PV5 Open Bed sits in an interesting middle ground. It’s smaller than traditional midsize trucks like the Toyota Hilux or Ford Ranger, but that’s intentional. Its compact footprint makes it far more suited to urban deliveries, job sites, and fleet operations than weekend off-roading. With up to 330 km of range, standard advanced driver-assistance systems, and Vehicle-to-Load capability, it’s designed to work — literally — all day.
Compared to rivals, the PV5 Open Bed doesn’t really have a direct electric competitor yet. Most electric pickups focus on size, power, and lifestyle appeal. Kia is aiming elsewhere: logistics companies, environmental services, agriculture, and small businesses that care more about cost, reliability, and flexibility than towing extreme loads. In that sense, it competes less with lifestyle trucks and more with compact commercial vans and diesel workhorses.
So how well would this concept translate outside South Korea?
In Europe, the answer looks promising. Compact commercial vehicles are hugely popular, urban access rules are tightening, and EV incentives remain strong. A reasonably priced electric pickup with modular options could fit perfectly into European cities and industrial zones.
Canada is more nuanced. Fleet buyers could appreciate the PV5’s practicality and V2L features, but cold-weather range and charging infrastructure would be critical factors. Still, as a fleet-focused vehicle rather than a consumer toy, it has real potential.
The United States is the hardest sell. American buyers associate pickups with size, power, and personal identity. However, for fleets, municipalities, and urban contractors, the PV5 Open Bed could quietly make sense — if Kia chooses to bring it over and price it aggressively.
In my view, the PV5 Open Bed shows Kia thinking several steps ahead. It’s not chasing headlines or trying to out-muscle traditional pickups. Instead, it’s redefining what a work vehicle should be in an electric world: adaptable, affordable, and purpose-built. If Kia brings this concept to global markets, it may not dominate driveways — but it could quietly become indispensable to how cities and businesses actually move.
