Kia is set to launch a slate of new electric and hybrid vehicles over the next year as it looks to boost its presence in the US, European, and other global markets.
Kia preps for new electric and hybrid vehicles
Get ready to see more Kia models on the road over the next few years. The South Korean automaker plans to introduce five new or refreshed flagship models in 2026.
For the first time since it hit the market in 2019, the Seltos, one of Kia’s most popular vehicles, is getting a complete redesign.
The new Kia Seltos will be offered as a hybrid for the first time. It will launch in Korea first in 2026 alongside a partially refreshed Niro, before rolling out globally.
In the US, Kia plans to navigate the new tariffs and policy changes by boosting local production of its most popular SUVs. The Telluride, Kia’s largest SUV, is getting an overhaul, which will also include a hybrid version for the first time.
Kia America’s vice president, Eric Watson, confirmed the second-gen Telluride debut at the LA Auto Show later this month.
Although like nearly all automakers, Kia’s EV sales plummeted in October after the federal tax credit expired. Kia sold just 666 units of its three-row EV9 SUV and 508 EV6 models in the US last month.
Despite this, Watson said that “Kia’s future remains very bright, and the brand will continue to grow” as it enters the holiday sales season and into 2026. Even with slower EV sales, Kia is still on track for its third straight record sales year in the US.
While Kia focuses on SUVs and hybrids, it’s delaying the EV4 electric sedan “until further notice.” Kia said the change is because “market conditions for EVs have changed.”
Kia has even bigger plans in Europe. Early next year, Kia is launching its new entry-level electric car, the EV2. The Kia EV2 is expected to be a cornerstone of Kia’s growth plans, priced under €30,000 ($35,000).
It will sit below the EV3, which is already the most popular retail EV in the UK and among the best-sellers in Europe.
Kia also plans to launch an electric version of the Siros SUV in India as it aims to play a bigger role in the global auto market.
And these are just the new vehicles Kia is launching in 2026. The Korean automaker has already introduced a wave of new models this year across key markets, such as the EV5, a midsize EV SUV, and the PV5, its first electric van.
Source: Newsis, Kia
Author: Peter Johnson
Source: Electrek
Reviewed By: Editorial Team
