Kia is bringing three EVs to KLIMS 2026 in Malaysia -- and two are already on sale next door

KUALA LUMPUR: Kia Sales Malaysia (KSM) has confirmed it will bring three electric vehicles to this year's Kuala Lumpur International Mobility Show, with social media postings pointing to the EV4, EV5, and PV5 going on display when KLIMS opens at MITEC from 12 to 21 June 2026.

None of the three are currently on sale in Malaysia, but given that two of them are already appearing in neighbouring markets, this feels less like a distant teaser and more like a proper countdown, at least for a couple of Kia's EVs.

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Here's a breakdown of each model and what it could mean for the Malaysian market.

Kia EV4 -- an affordable electric sedan for Malaysia

The EV4 is Kia's newest electric sedan, and possibly the most significant of the three for Malaysian buyers looking for an affordable EV alternative.

It sits on the E-GMP platform, the same underpinning used by the EV6, EV9, Hyundai Ioniq 5, Ioniq 6, and Genesis GV60. Two battery options are on offer: a Standard Range with a 58.3 kWh battery rated for up to 430 km, and a Long Range with an 81.4 kWh battery rated for up to 633 km on the WLTP cycle. Both support 350 kW ultra-fast charging, capable of a 10 to 80 percent top-up in 31 minutes.

The EV4 has already made its Southeast Asian debut. It was displayed at GIIAS 2025 in Indonesia, though it was not officially for sale to consumers at that point.

No regional market has it on sale yet. If Kia Malaysia prices it based on its Korean market positioning, it could potentially land below RM150,000 -- which would put it directly in the sights of the BYD Seal and Chery Omoda E5, two popular models that have been gaining serious traction locally.

Kia EV5 -- a mid-size electric SUV already on sale next door

The EV5 is a five-seat electric SUV, and unlike the other two cars on this list, it is already on sale in Southeast Asia. In Thailand, it is offered in variants priced from ฿1,249,000 to ฿1,749,000 -- roughly RM162,000 to RM227,000.

Front-wheel drive variants get a 217 PS, 310 Nm motor with a 64.2 kWh battery giving around 490 km of range, while the long-range and AWD models carry an 88.1 kWh battery with ranges of up to 665 km and 620 km respectively.

In the Philippines, the EV5 launched at the 2026 Manila International Auto Show in two variants -- a base GL and a higher-spec GLS -- priced at P2.298 million and P2.698 million respectively. Both share a single front-mounted motor producing 214 hp and 310 Nm, with the two variants differing in battery size between 64.2 kWh and 88.1 kWh.

The EV5's presence in two SEA markets already makes it the strongest candidate for an eventual Malaysian launch. At RM162,000 to RM200,000 -- if priced similarly to Thailand -- it would sit competitively against the Toyota bZ4X, which is already on sale in Malaysia.

Kia PV5 -- an award-winning electric van unlike anything in Malaysia

The PV5 is the wildcard of the three and represents something Malaysia has not really seen before. It is not a passenger car -- it is Kia's first purpose-built electric commercial van.

Built on a dedicated E-GMP.S platform, the PV5 features a modular construction that allows it to be configured as a panel van, passenger MPV, wheelchair-accessible vehicle, or bare chassis cab -- with a refrigerated truck, pickup bed, and luxury variant also in the pipeline.

It has already won the 2026 International Van of the Year award, the first time a Korean model has taken that title.

Two battery sizes are available -- a 51.5 kWh unit producing 120 hp, and a 71 kWh version producing 160 hp -- with a claimed range of up to 256 miles on the larger pack. The PV5 has not launched in any Southeast Asian market yet.

Kia launched it first in Korea before rolling it out to Europe, with expansion to additional global markets planned for 2026, but Southeast Asia has not been named as part of that wave so far. Its appearance at KLIMS 2026 would be its Malaysian debut and one of its first showings in the region.

KSM currently has no EVs in its local lineup, having moved on from the EV9 at the start of the year. Bringing the EV4, EV5, and PV5 to KLIMS is a clear signal that the brand is working toward re-entering the EV space in Malaysia.

The EV5 is the most ready -- proven in Thailand and the Philippines, with pricing that would translate competitively here. The EV4 addresses the need for an accessible electric sedan in a segment that remains largely underserved in Malaysia.

The PV5 opens up a conversation around electric commercial vehicles that no brand here has seriously tackled yet.

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