Long range battery only for EV6 initially, pricing talks started

May 21, 2021May 21, 2021 Toby Hagon 3273 Views

Kia’s first dedicated EV, the EV6, will initially only be offered in Australia with the larger “long range” battery pack.

Confirmation that Kia Australia will pursue a bigger-is-better strategy with batteries comes as Kia begins selling its first EV – and hybrid and plug-in hybrid – this week, the Niro.

But it’s the upcoming Kia EV6 that is set to further shake up the emerging electric car market.

Built on a dedicated EV platform called E-GMP that will eventually spawn a family of seven vehicles as well as a similar number from sister brand Hyundai (including the Ioniq 5), the EV6 has Tesla squarely in its crosshairs.

“For now, long range [only],” said Kia Australia product planning boss Roland Rivero, who confirmed pricing negotiations have begun for the crucial new EV player ahead of its arrival late in 2021 or early 2022.

Referencing Australians’ ongoing concerns about range anxiety – the worry of running out of electricity before the next charging station – Rivero said it could “help in the purchase process”.

“Just like Niro, we feel that right now that’s the best strategy,” he said. “We just want to put our best foot forward [with EV6].”

As for pricing, Kia acknowledged it could come in close to the Niro Electric, which has just gone on sale from $67,490 drive-away, about $1000 less than a Tesla Model 3.

“We try our best to position it according to our market and value for money is a key component obviously in the success so we’ll endeavour to fight hard as we always do,” said Rivero, who is currently negotiation with Kia head office in Korea on the exact pricing.

As for how much the EV6 will cost, the only clue is that the Tesla Model Y has been set as the benchmark.

“From a global perspective … Kia HQ is well aware of the positioning of EV6 relative to Model Y.

We’re got a fair indication of how Model Y is positioned in other markets with respect to Model 3. That’s being looked at quite seriously in terms of where Model Y might be positioned in Australia.

That’s being seen as the benchmark.

In its homeland of the United States the Model Y starts from US$49,990. However, that is for the Long Range model with two electric motors and AWD; a more affordable single motor version has not yet been released.

Comparing the Model Y Long Range against the Model 3 Long Range (US$46,990) it’s about 6 percent more expensive.

Considering the Model 3 starts from about $68,000 drive-away in Australia, best guesses are that the EV6 could start with a list price in the high-$60,000 mark, sneaking into $70K-plus territory once on-road costs are included.

In only taking the larger 77.4kWh battery – which also unleashes more power for better performance – Rivero did not take the smaller 58kWh battery off the table.

“Should the market dictate it … we’ll look at that,” he said, opening the prospects of a more affordable EV6 variant in future.

Kia Australia COO Damien Meredith says the biggest issue with the EV6 could be getting enough of them.

“I think supply with drive the [sales] target [for EV6],” he said when quizzed on sales numbers.

“We’ve been frustrated with supply for EV … but it didn’t stop our planning, nor our network development with the dealers.”