Kia rolls out e-vehicle lineup

MANILA, Philippines — Automotive firm Kia Philippines has officially launched its electric vehicle (EV) offering to the Philippines market, as part of the company’s transition into a future mobility solutions brand.

The newly launched EV6 model 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,” Kia Philippines’ president Manny Aligada said.

“Our one true message to the public aims to open their eyes to the reality and potential of fully electric vehicles, and that Kia is here to make EV ownership convenient, worry-free, and enjoyable,” he said.

Aligada explained that global EV6 comes in three variants: the Baseline, the GT and the GT Line, which have their own specifications and features.

“For the Philippine market, we chose to bring in the GT Line as its capabilities are best fit for Philippine driving conditions. Among the three, the EV6 GT Line has the longest range at 528 kilometers, enough to bring you to Baguio and back with one full charge,” Aligada said.

The EV6 GT line offers a fully-electric, zero-emission powertrain configuration with a long-range (77.4 kilowatthour) high-voltage battery pack. It can travel over 500 kms on a single charge.

It also features charging options manufactured by Ayala-led Integrated Micro-Electronics, Inc. and its partner Greenstrum, and will be supported by an expanding charging system network provided by Ayala Land.

“We made sure to put the charging architecture in place long before the arrival of the EV6,” Ayala Corp. president and CEO Cezar Consing said.

“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,” he added.

Consing reiterated that the Ayala Group is committed to achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, as it believes that positive climate action is an investment that will benefit future generations.

“Kia Philippines—with the EV6 as its flagship vehicle, will lead other Kia models in showcasing the brand’s technology, innovation, design direction, and the overall package that Kia has to offer to its market,” said Joey Hong, head of sales of Kia Asia Pacific.

“I am confident to say that with the Ayala Group’s strong EV ecosystem, the EV6 will be warmly welcomed by the Filipinos–as we head toward a sustainable and zero-emission road in the Philippines,” he said.

Kia Philippines said the EV6 would set the bar for performance, range, design, luxury, and worry-free EV travel in the Philippines.

“When the public eventually embraces our EVs, then Kia also fulfills its social responsibility and commitment to sustainable mobility, sustainable energy, and a sustainable planet.Soon, the Philippines will also reap the benefits of the environment-friendly shift towards greener motoring,”Aligada 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 160,000-km 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 cutting edge and stylish colors: Moonscape, Snow White Pearl, Runway Red, Yacht Blue and Aurora Black Pearl.

The electric vehicle will eventually be available at all 42 Kia dealers nationwide, but the initial roll out 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.