‘Movement That Inspires’ is proudly on display in the Kia Philippines booth at the 8th Philippine International Motor Show (PIMS), currently being held at The World Trade Center in Pasay City. The brand’s exhibit highlights its move towards electric vehicles and, more importantly, sustainability.

The new Kia movement was launched locally in the 4th quarter of 2021 with the reveal of the brand’s new logo and tagline. The momentum has continued throughout 2022 with the opening of several new dealerships. This rapid nationwide expansion takes the Kia brand a step closer to its target of having 50 operational and appointed dealerships by the end of next year. Kia also achieved a 76% increase in sales in 2021 versus 2020. And for the first half of this year, Kia has positioned itself as one of the fastest-growing car brands in the country, with a 30% year-on-year performance and is on target for continuous achievement until the end of 2022.

Kia’s cutting-edge design and technology are evident in the brand’s portfolio which caters to a wide range of lifestyle and business needs. The Kia Soluto subcompact sedan elevates your daily drive; the Kia Stonic subcompact SUV is unmatched in its genius in style and design; the Kia Sorento midsize SUV completely exudes power and elegance, the Kia Carnival grand utility vehicle allows you to create quality moments in executive class; and the brand’s latest offering that will come on the market in early 2023, the breakthrough EV6 all-electric crossover SUV.

The Kia EV6 and its supporting charging ecosystem are the centerpieces of the Kia PIMS display, representing the brand’s pivotal shift into the electric vehicle market and the brand’s commitment to sustainability. “Today, we begin our deliberate participation in the Electric Vehicle market as we move into the inflection point,” says Kia Philippines President Manny Aligada.

“Our event now is not simply another model introduction but also signifies Kia’s commitment to realizing our social responsibility through our 3S activities – sustainable mobility, sustainable energy, sustainable planet. Sustainability is a future not just for Kia as the Ayala group has committed to achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. This is a guideline Kia believes in and is a focal point in our business. Sustainability is our move to protect the greatest source of inspiration, nature,” he adds.

Aligada also shares that Ayala Land reinforces its commitment towards sustainable and responsible property development. In keeping with the company’s thrust and long-term commitment, it supports the use of alternative energy sources. Further, it aligns with the global and local directive to shift to more EVs.  And in the coming weeks, over 20 EV charging stations will be rolled out across seven cities in Luzon.

The New EV6 Sets the Bar for Electric Vehicles

The Kia EV6 brings long-range, zero-emissions power, 800V ultra-fast charging and distinctive styling to the crossover SUV market. The EV6 is Kia’s first car based on the company’s dedicated new platform for battery electric vehicles (BEVs).

“The Kia EV6 has won many titles and awards including but not limited to 5-Star NCAP rating and the European Car of the Year. However, what thrills us the most besides these victories, is the absolute hospitality and enthusiastic acceptance of the EV6 from our customers all around the world as it gives us a strong signal that we are heading in the right direction. Kia’s vision to become a global leading eco-friendly mobility solution provider is not just our internal target anymore, but an achievable future that is strongly supported by our customers who feel exactly the same way we do about our future and environment and sustainability,” says Joey Hong of Kia Asia Pacific. “Together with many upcoming electric models which we will introduce to the market, we are ready to begin a whole new journey for a better future.” 

Its outstanding features making the multi-award-winning Kia EV6 a stand-out electric vehicle include:

1. Styling and Design. At the center of the EV6 design is a new visual identity evoking positive forces and natural energy, with contrasting combinations of sharp stylistic elements and sculptural shapes. The EV6, as the first dedicated Kia EV, is a showcase of human-centered, progressive design and electrified power. It is a distinctive, impactful design that will define Kia’s future. Notable accolades include the 2022 iF Design Award and 2022 Red Dot Award.

2. Functionality. The EV6’s interior is versatile and spacious thanks to the flat under-floor battery. The interior design benefits greatly from the application of Kia’s dedicated Electric Global Modular Platform (E-GMP). Despite the EV6’s compact exterior dimensions, its 2,900mm wheelbase results in cabin space similar to many midsize SUVs.

3. Great Aerodynamics. The side profile displays a crossover-inspired silhouette which is modern, sleek and aerodynamic. A character line runs along the bottom of the doors, curving upwards towards the rear wheel arches to visually elongate the profile of the car. Designed in part to realize ultimate aerodynamic performance, the rear displays a sloping C-pillar with an integrated black glossy insert which appears to extend the window glass. Above this sits a prominent wing-type roof spoiler that channels air downwards towards a raised lower spoiler, which sits atop the car’s unique rear light cluster. This plays a huge role in the EV6’s exceptional 500+km range (based on EPA rating).

4. Safety. The EV6 offers class-leading levels of safety and convenience thanks to its enhanced suite of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). They help to reduce many of the inherent hazards and stressors of driving, protecting occupants and other road users on every journey. Safe Exit Assist (SEA) helps drivers avoid collisions with a rear side vehicle when exiting; Lane Following Assist (LFA) helps center the vehicle in the lane; and Rear Cross Traffic Collision Avoidance Assist (RCCA) will alert drivers about oncoming hazards when backing up.

5. Technology. The EV6 GT-Line offers a fully-electric, zero-emission powertrain configuration with a long-range (77.4 kWh) high-voltage battery pack.The EV6 can travel more than 500 kilometers on a single charge (based on EPA rating). With maximum 350Nm torque, the EV6 can accelerate from 0-to-100kph in 7.3 seconds. The 77.4 kWh battery pack is paired with a 168 kW (229ps) electric motor powering the rear wheels.

Sales of the Kia EV6 will begin in early 2023 with a price below PHP4,000,000. Charging options of the EV6 in the Philippines are as follows: through the Kia In Cable Control Box (ICCB) charger that comes with the vehicle; a home wall-mounted charger that can be purchased and installed by our affiliate, Greenstrum; and the growing number of malls and establishments that offer EV charging stations with Type 2/CCS2 protocol.

The full line-up of Kia’s innovative vehicles will be on display in this year’s Motor Show for customers to examine up close. In addition, the booth includes other exciting features such as the Kia Vehicle to Load (V2L) Coffee Shop and an Interactive Motion Wall which is a digital art installation showcasing artistic interpretations of land, ocean, and air triggered by motion sensors. Guests can also take a closer look at various details of the EV6 exhibits. These include the EV6 configurator and the V2L display which demonstrates the car’s capability to supply up to 3.6kW of power, enough to operate a 55-inch television and air conditioner simultaneously for more than 24 hours.