The Kia Picanto, a budget hatchback that has sold over 260,000 units in the UK, faces discontinuation by the end of the decade if electric vehicle (EV) regulations are not amended, according to a warning from Kia UK boss Paul Philpott.
Zero Emission Vehicle Mandate Threatens Petrol Models
Under current Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate rules, all new combustion-engined cars sold after 2030 must incorporate some form of hybrid technology. This is followed by a total ban on new petrol and diesel cars from the Labour Party government in 2035. Philpott stated: "We cannot sell the Picanto as a petrol car beyond the end of 2029." He added that the company would either need to replace the model entirely or "give up" on the small car market altogether.
Kia's Electric Vehicle Expansion
Kia currently offers 11 electric vehicles and has just sold its 100,000th EV in the UK. The brand is about to launch the EV2, a compact B-segment crossover, while a smaller model, potentially called the 'EV1', is likely to follow. Speaking at the European launch of the Kia EV2, Philpott told the PA news agency: "You only have to look at our range of cars to realise that alongside the EV3, we now have the EV2, the EV4 hatchback and EV5 SUV. There is room for a small electric city car and when we have to meet the 80 per cent ZEV Mandate EV market share, we need to be selling electric vehicles in every segment of the market."
He added: "We've been selling EVs for 12 years now and this week we sold our 100,000th unit in the UK. Kia is a significant player in electric vehicles and already has one of the most comprehensive ranges to enable the brand to meet tougher ZEV Mandate targets." The Kia EV2 will go on sale later this year, with details on UK pricing, specifications, and further information to follow in due course.
