[wmcforum]

A factory-made wheelchair accessible variant of the Kia PV5 electric van will be launched in late 2026.

Motability Operations and Kia have partnered to advance the electrification of wheelchair accessible vehicles.

A factory-made wheelchair accessible variant of the Kia PV5 electric van will be launched in late 2026, while locally converted PV5 variants will be available from early 2026.

The factory-made variant will be designed, built and sold by Kia.

It will feature a quick-use, 300kg-rated wheelchair entry ramp, with a wheelchair belt fastening system.

Motability Operations will support the development process by providing customer insights into the UK market.

Kia said that the partnership will ensure disabled people have more affordable options for wheelchair accessible vehicles, either with in-plant built models or specialist conversions.

The PV5 side-entry variant will be manufactured at Kia’s Hwaseong EVO Plant in Korea.

Andrew Miller, CEO of Motability Operations, said: “The eVITA concept was built to create a conversation about inclusive design.

“This new MoU with Kia shows that vision is becoming a reality, with factory and conversion eWAVs that are built with accessibility in mind from the beginning.

“By sharing our customer and WAV market insight with Kia’s design teams, we’re taking the next step toward creating a purpose-built electric WAV.

“This collaboration supports our long-term goals and helps us take the next step in creating a purpose-built electric WAV to protect disabled people’s mobility through the EV transition.”

Topic

[Jojoe]

This is such a good idea, Motability has vast knowledge of the needs of wheelchair users. Being factory made should mean it’s cheaper than a conversion, I can imagine it selling well around the world.

[MFillingham]

It’s one of those ideas which leave you asking why it’s only just happened.  When you can attract a global market there’s enough demand throughout Europe, Asia and America for wheelchair users to have something fresh from the factory ready to use.  Why the Buzz hadn’t got a similar variant just beats me.

Add in Motability’s help and there is a mass of inside information that should help KIA be a huge step ahead of the competition.  It also gives them access to the single biggest disability provider in Europe.

I'm Autistic, if I say something you find offensive, please let me know, I can guarantee it was unintentional.
I'll try to give my honest opinion but am always open to learning.

Mark

[Logiejames]

One hopes this will lead to the pv5 in both the WAV and it’s ‘people carrier’ variant will appear on the scheme in future. As it seems like such a wonderfully practical and easy to get into vehicle regardless of extend of a person mobility issues.

I’m ‘lucky’ that I only have to use my chair occasionally rather than constantly, but having a vehicle that could cope should that ‘occasional’ become more ‘most of the time’ or ‘always’ would be nice. Equally I would imagine I’d be a damn sight easier for me to get the chair in and out of the PV5 than the boot of my current scheme car as its heavy and I have the strength of a infant pigeon haha.

[kezo]

Its not an overly expensive vehicle  to start with and as long, as conversion can be done at reasonable cost, it could prove popular

[Mark]

If the Kia PV5 people carrier becomes available on the motability scheme I would be very interested it being our next vehicle. Obviously the advance payment and subject to a lengthy test drive would need to be OK. But being an EV I would see as a big plus.

[Fastbike1000]

I wonder if this as gone out the window since the budget.

[H.K_R]

Given the substantially lower list price of the PV5 Passenger compared to the current crop of van based electric people carriers from Ford and Stellantis with some £15,000 difference, I would expect this to be continuing.

[Author]

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