- PV5 Cargo named multiple ‘Van of the Year’ titles by Electrifying.com, Parkers and News UK
- Comprehensive wins across technological innovation, safety, design, family usability and long-distance capability underscore Kia PBV’s strength in the global LCV market
- Awards validate Kia’s customer-driven PBV strategy, backed by modular design, practical engineering and the brand’s long-standing heritage
The Kia PV5, the brand’s first all-electric platform beyond vehicle (PBV), is achieving one of the most extensive global award records for a first-generation model — demonstrating that Kia PBV has secured meaningful competitiveness in the traditional light commercial vehicle (LCV) segment from its very first year on the market.
Since its global debut, the PV5 has swept major international awards across safety, performance, design, family usability and real-world capability. This cross-category recognition not only validates the PV5’s product excellence but also confirms that Kia’s PBV strategy—rooted in customer insight, practical usability and decades of commercial-vehicle experience from the Bongo lineage—is resonating strongly with the global market.
“The momentum behind the PV5 reflects Kia’s long-term commitment to redefining purpose-built mobility. By combining customer insight with modular design, electrification and a scalable PBV ecosystem, we aim to accelerate innovation across global markets and expand Kia’s role beyond vehicle manufacturing into mobility solutions that create lasting value for businesses, cities and individuals.” – Sangdae Kim, Executive Vice President and Head of PBV Business Division, Kia Corporation
Strong Europe Momentum: Major LCV Media Agree on PV5’s Leadership
Europe has become a decisive proving ground for the PV5’s global competitiveness. Across the region’s leading commercial-vehicle authorities, the PV5 has secured multiple “Van of the Year” titles, with consistent commentary that it sets a new benchmark for electric van practicality, refinement and value.
Most recently, at the 2026 Electrifying.com Awards, the PV5 Cargo was named ‘Van of the Year’, while Kia received ‘EV Brand of the Year’. Judges highlighted the PV5’s modular PBV platform, ease of conversion, balanced EV drivability and operator-focused functionality. Kia’s inclusive mobility approach—including the integration of wheelchair-accessible design from launch—was also recognized as a meaningful differentiator in the commercial EV market.
In December, the PV5 Cargo earned both ‘Van of the Year’ and ‘Compact Van of the Year’ at the What Van? Awards 2026, reflecting high scores for its quiet and refined EV driving experience, exceptional value, urban maneuverability, modular flexibility and real-world usability. Earlier in November, What Van? published a full review of the PV5, awarding it a perfect 10/10 rating—the only electric LCV to receive such a score in the publication’s 2025 evaluations.
The PV5’s momentum continued at the Parkers Van & Pickup Awards 2026, where it won ‘Van of the Year’ and ‘Best Electric Van’. Parkers described the PV5 as “a first effort that has shaken the industry,” commending its practical engineering, thoughtful packaging and competitive pricing. This was followed by the News UK Motor Awards 2025, where The Sun named the PV5 ‘Van of the Year’, signalling a breakthrough in mainstream consumer recognition and underscoring the vehicle’s broad appeal.
Together, these accolades establish the PV5 as one of the most comprehensively recognized electric vans in the UK, reaffirming its position as a new benchmark in the LCV segment.
Global Commercial Leadership: Winner of the 2026 International Van of the Year (IVOTY)
Selected unanimously by 26 commercial vehicle journalists, the PV5 earned the 2026 International Van of the Year (IVOTY) title, becoming the first Korean van and Asia’s first EV to receive this honor.
IVOTY judges highlighted the PV5’s:
- Modular architecture enabling flexible derivatives and conversions
- Operational efficiency and real-world usability
- Attention to safety and environmental considerations
This achievement solidifies Kia as a rapidly rising contender in global commercial EVs.
Safety Leadership – five-star 2025 Euro NCAP Commercial Van Safety Assessment
The PV5 Cargo received the maximum five-star rating in Euro NCAP’s 2025 commercial Van Safety assessment, placing it among Europe’s safest commercial vans and reinforcing Kia’s leadership in EV safety.
Euro NCAP commended the PV5’s:
- High-performance Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) across pedestrian, cyclist and vehicle scenarios
- Effective Lane Support System (LSS) with stable interventions
- Advanced Speed Assistance System (SAS) with accurate speed-limit recognition
- Rigid PBV-specific body structure and optimized crash design
This result continues Kia’s track record of top-tier Euro NCAP performance following the EV6 (2022), EV9 (2023) and EV3 (2025).
Global Design Excellence: Red Dot Awards Across Different Categories
The PV5 also excelled in the world’s most prestigious design competitions, reinforcing Kia’s evolving design philosophy and its leadership in shaping the PBV era.
At the Red Dot Award: Design Concept 2025, the PV5 WKNDR Concept received the competition’s highest honor, Best of the Best, for its expressive adventure-focused design, modular adaptability and sustainable innovation. Four additional Kia concepts — PV1, PV5, PV7 and EV2— were also recognized, highlighting the depth and versatility of Kia’s conceptual design direction.
Kia further strengthened its design credentials at the Red Dot Award: Brands & Communication Design 2025, earning multiple awards for its ability to communicate PBV innovation across physical, digital and experiential touchpoints. Winning projects included the PV5 Story booth at the Seoul Mobility Show and the PV5 Adventure Brand Film.
Together, these honors underscore Kia’s ability to translate its design philosophy into immersive brand experiences and user-centric mobility concepts, demonstrating how PBV innovation can be expressed through spatial design, storytelling, and advanced digital UX.
Real-World Performance Validated by GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™
The PV5 Cargo Long achieved a major real-world milestone recognized by GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™:
“Greatest distance (693.38 km) travelled by a light-duty battery-powered electric van with maximum payload on a single charge”
This confirms the PV5’s efficiency, durability and long-range capability under authentic commercial conditions — a critical factor for fleets and operators evaluating EV transition.
Technology and Engineering Rooted in Customer Insight
The PV5’s engineering direction was shaped by input from over 100 global customers and tested across 1,000 real-world use scenarios.
Key technologies include:
- E-GMP.S (Electric-Global Modular Platform for Service) Engineered specifically for commercial environments, offering structural stability under high loads, optimized battery layout and low-floor packaging enabling
- Flexible Body System Modularized body components – including doors and tailgates – support rapid derivative development, factory conversions and future specialized models
- PBV-Exclusive Infotainment (AAOS-based) 12.9-inch wide display with third-party app compatibility via the Pleos App Market and integrated control systems designed for conversion vehicles and professional operators
Additional features include comprehensive ADAS, crash-safety optimization, and a wide range of Kia Genuine Accessories and AddGear options supporting diverse user needs.
A Starting Point for Kia’s PBV Journey
The PV5 represents the beginning of Kia’s long-term plan to build a full PBV ecosystem. In the coming years, Kia will broaden the PV5 lineup with new derivatives while introducing larger PBV models such as the PV7 and PV9. The company will also expand its PBV presence across global markets including the Middle East, Japan and the wider Asia-Pacific region. As software-defined mobility evolves, the PV5 platform will integrate new connected services, digital applications and mobility-enhancement features that unlock additional customer value.
With this foundation, Kia aims to accelerate the transition toward more flexible, efficient and accessible purpose-built mobility—positioning the PV5 not only as an award-winning vehicle, but as the first step in a transformative mobility strategy.
