Kia NZ hits electric button hard in early 2022

The New Year will bring a bold new direction for Kia New Zealand with the local launch of its EV6 and the introduction of Kia’s “Plan S” for vehicle electrification, mobility services, autonomy and more.

The EV6 is due here late in the first quarter of 2022.

“We have an eye on a fast-start to 2022, one which has the introduction of Kia’s Plan S in the local market followed shortly after by the launch of the incredible all-new EV6,” Kia New Zealand managing director Todd McDonald says.

“The EV6 looks stunning and has performance credentials to match, from both a dynamics as well as range perspective.

“The Long Range model offers in excess of 500km driving, has an ultra-fast charging capability of 100km in less than four-and-a-half-minutes, towing of up to 1600kg (on more than 35% battery charge) and the AWD GT version accelerates from zero to 100km/h in an eye-watering 3.5 seconds and can reach a top speed of 260km/h.”

The EV6 has already won a string of awards, while the Concept EV9 SUV debuted at the recent AutoMobility LA show, both using the company’s advanced electric global modular platform (E-GMP).

As part of the move to Plan S, Kia New Zealand has advised that PHEV and HEV versions of the Kia Sorento will now form the entirety of the Sorento range and the recently arrived shipment of the flagship Stinger model will be the last.

“The increasing electrification of the new vehicle fleet is a watershed moment for Kia and these decisions represent an exciting shift towards new electric and hybrid vehicles and a more sustainable future,” McDonald says.