Kia Australia is gearing up to launch its first-ever electric van, and the PV5 Cargo is already attracting a healthy number of orders from a wide range of buyers.
Priced at $55,990 before on-road costs, the PV5 Cargo is among Australia’s cheapest electric vans and will be released locally in late May 2026 – initially in just S Long Range guise, with additional variants to follow.
Kia Australia general manager of marketing, Dean Norbiato, told CarExpert the PV5 had “somewhat exceeded early expectations”, even though it’s not yet “officially in market”.
“We have released pricing, which we feel the team has done an exceptional job to get really competitive, and it’s resonating with customers already, with dealers taking orders ahead of its launch date,” he said.
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“That’s a hugely encouraging marker about its possible trajectory in the Australian market. It’s one that we just can’t wait to get to launch and get to market, which should only be a few weeks away.”
The sharp pricing sees the PV5 Cargo undercut Australia’s existing electric vans by at least $6000, including the Peugeot e-Partner, LDV eDeliver 7, and Volkswagen ID. Buzz Cargo. It was only recently pipped to the title of Australia’s cheapest electric van by China’s Farizon, whose V7E starts at $49,990 drive-away.
The PV5 Cargo’s single-motor, front-wheel drive setup also provides a competitive claimed driving range of 416km (WLTP), and it’s exclusively fitted with the smallest of the three batteries available across the PV5 range.
The Cargo is just one variant in a large family of PV5 vans offered overseas. These include cab-chassis models fitted with trays, and wheelchair-friendly people movers, although none of these are currently locked in for Australia.
Despite that, Mr Norbiato says early orders have been split between business/fleet and individual buyers, a trend that echoes the local sentiment for the more expensive ID. Buzz.
“It’s actually been a bit of a mix,” he told CarExpert. “We’ve done some fleet deals already at a national level, and the dealers are doing it for local customers who are looking to customise the inside.
“One of them wanted to fit it with surfboards so they could use it to take equipment to and from surf lessons. Its full cargo capacity is really going to be tested, so that’s something we’re excited about.”
Kia Australia also indicated it’s open to introducing other PV5 configurations locally, though it has not committed to any release timeframes.
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