Kia Soul EV Production to Start Next Month for 2016 Launch

Kiaclub Nieuwsrobot · March 11, 2014

Heads up EV fans, Kia is on track to launch its first global battery-powered vehicle in 2016.

The automaker will start building Soul EVs in South Korea next month. This will be Hyundai-Kia’s first pure-electric model for export markets; it’s expected to go on sale both in the United States and Europe.

The amped-up Kia Soul offers 92 miles of driving range following a rapid charge, which takes anywhere from 24 to 33 minutes. A slower replenishment of the battery pack takes some four hours.

In its home market the Soul EV will cost around 42 million won, which is about $39,400, but that price will fall by about half when South Korean government subsidies are factored in. That reduced figure is similar to what a high-end gasoline-powered model costs.

The company has set a global sales target of 5,000 units though if more states like California start requiring manufacturers to offer zero-emissions vehicles that figure could grow.