Kia PH joins EV bandwagon, launches EV6

Kia Philippines has launched EV6, its pure electric vehicle model, as the company joined the electric vehicle (EV) bandwagon in the country even as the company forecasts a bullish 15 percent overall sales for the year, higher than the industry’s 10 percent.

Manny Aligada, Kia Philippines president, said there could be an upside to the growth forecasts this year depending on how several factors come into play. These factors include supply for cars stabilizes and continued expansion of the economy. One favorable factor is the foreign exchange rate, which is expected to be more stable than last year. A similar improvement in interest rates will provide further push, he said.

“We always outpaced industry growth and so we feel we can achieve higher with the line-up and appreciation of the public,” he said.

Meantime, he said, the launch of EV6 on Tuesday, March 21, will be not deliver volumes but it will be a flagship model. The company is targeting to sell at least 50 units of EVs this year. “It will present Kia’s capability to have an aspirational vehicle, given its award-winning design and up to date technology, while maintaining a strong distribution system across the country,” said Aligada.

Reservations for EV6 come from businessmen and executives who are conscious of the carbon footprint, he said.

The EV6 GT-Line, with all its inclusions, is priced at P3,788,000.

It includes a portable charger; five years or 160,000-km vehicle warranty and 8 years or 160,000km HV battery system warranty, whichever comes first; five years of free Preventive Maintenance Service (PMS); and five years of free 24/7 Roadside assistance.

The EV6 will be available in five stylish colors: Moonscape, Snow White Pearl, Runway Red, Yacht Blue and Aurora Black Pearl.

The EV6 will eventually be available at all 42 Kia dealers nationwide, but the initial rollout of dedicated EV dealerships will begin with Kia New Manila in Quezon City, Kia Alabang in Muntinlupa, Kia Sto. Tomas in Batangas, South Luzon, and Kia Pampanga in North Luzon.

He said the launch of EV on Tuesday, March 22, will set the standard in this new and exciting vehicle segment. It also gets support by the EV ecosystem of the Ayala Group, which has 20 EV charging stations to date. The Ayala group is also expanding its EV infrastructure in the south and to Baguio Techno Hub.

For instance, he said, charging options are manufactured by Integrated Micro-Electronics, Inc. (part of the Ayala Group) and its partner Greenstrum, and an expanding charging system network provided by Ayala Land, all an environment-conscious owner has to do is get in and go for an exciting and worry-free drive.

The EV6 will cater to the discerning EV market which expects a convenient and enjoyable user experience.

“It is truly our honor to introduce this latest innovation by

Kia: A sustainable car with zero emissions, and a step toward Kia’s ambitious yet important transition into a future mobility solutions brand,” said Aligada. “Our one true message to the public aims to open their eyes to the reality and potential of Fully Electric Vehicles, and that Kia PH is here to make EV ownership convenient, worry-free, and enjoyable.”

“We made sure to put the charging architecture in place long before the arrival of the EV6,” said Ayala Corporation President and CEO Bong Consing. “Our strategically located charging stations are proof of our commitment to electrification. We are using the whole Ayala ecosystem to support the growth and adoption of EVs in the Philippines. We expect EV take-up to grow rapidly, and EVs to be the dominant transport technology in a few years.” Consing also reiterates that the Ayala Group is committed to achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. “Ayala believes that positive climate action is an investment that will benefit future generations,” he adds.

The EV6 is Kia’s first car to be based on the company’s dedicated new platform for battery electric vehicles (BEVs). The EV6, as the first dedicated Kia EV, is a showcase of human-centered, progressive design and electrified power that yields an output of 229PS and 350Nm of torque. It is a distinctive model that will define Kia’s future. Notable accolades include the 2022 iF Design Award, 2022 Red Dot Award, 2022 European Car of the Year, and US Car of the Year.