This Could Be The Most Affordable Electric MPV When Launched In India

• Kia Motors confirms the launch of Carens EV in India.

• The announcement was made during the 2024 Kia Investor Day, which also included the global launch of six EVs by 2026.

• The Carens EV is expected to deliver a range of up to 500 km. 

• It is also expected to come equipped with ADAS along with other standard safety features. 

• Carens EV India launch is expected by mid-2025. 

Kia is gearing up to introduce a significant addition to its EV lineup in India with the launch of the Carens EV by 2025. This was confirmed during the 2024 Kia Investor Day, where the company’s CEO Ho Sung Song announced Kia's intention to launch six EVs worldwide by 2026, including region-specific models such as the Carens EV for the Indian market.

The launch of the Carens EV could make it the most affordable electric MPV on our shores. Currently, the BYD E6, priced at Rs 29.15 lakh, is the affordable electric MPV with three-row seating

The carmaker initially revealed its plans for an electric MPV back in 2022, which we speculated to be the electric version of Carens. While specifics regarding its powertrain remain undisclosed, it's expected to offer a range of up to 500 km. Additionally, Kia may introduce AWD variants with extended range and larger battery capacity.

Features such as a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system, an 8-speaker Bose sound system, a digital driver’s display, a wireless phone charger, 64-colour ambient lighting, a sunroof, ventilated front seats, six airbags, all-wheel disc brakes, a dash camera, and hill start assist control are expected to be carried over from the Carens. 

Kia has also mentioned plans to enhance safety across its models, aiming for over 63 percent of them to be equipped with ADAS by 2026. This suggests that the Carens EV may also feature ADAS.

Recently, Kia partnered with Exide Energy for the local production of electric vehicle batteries, which you can learn more about over here. On the 2024 Kia Investor Day, the carmaker also announced one more region-specific EV for India, which we suspect to be a compact SUV rivalling the likes of the Tata Curvv EV and Maruti Suzuki eVX. 

We expect the Carens EV to be priced from around Rs 20 lakh (ex-showroom) with an expected launch in mid-2025. Upon launch, it will serve as an all-electric alternative to MPVs like the Maruti Ertiga, Toyota Innova Crysta, and Maruti Suzuki XL6, while also providing a more affordable option over the BYD E6.