Kia has expanded its PBV (Platform Beyond Vehicle) programme with the reveal of the new PV5 Chassis Cab at Solutrans 2025 in Lyon. The latest variant adds a flexible, converter-ready option to the forthcoming all-electric PV5 range, which is due to arrive in the UK imminently.
Built on the PBV-dedicated E-GMP.S platform, the PV5 Chassis Cab has been designed from the outset for electrification and body-builder adaptability. Despite being less than five metres long, it offers a payload of up to 1,005kg and can support cargo bodies of up to eight cubic metres in High Box form.
Kia says the vehicle has been developed with European converters to ensure compatibility with a wide range of use cases, including dropsides, tippers, box vans and refrigerated bodies. A converted food-truck version is on display at Solutrans to demonstrate the approach.
The Chassis Cab will launch with a 51.5kWh battery, with a larger 71.2kWh long-range option joining the range later. As with the existing PV5 Cargo, range will depend on body configuration, but Kia cites up to 185 miles for the standard battery and up to 258 miles for the long-range pack on the L2H1 Cargo model. DC rapid charging at up to 150kW enables a 10–80% charge in around half an hour, while 22kW AC depot charging will follow later.
The platform features a dual-annular steel exoskeleton, which improves rigidity for converters and enhances crash protection, along with integrated rear underrun protection. The vehicle also includes the latest version of Kia’s ADAS suite with Smart Cruise Control 2, Lane Following Assist 2 and Intelligent Speed Limit Assist.
The Kia PV5 Chassis Cab will also be covered by the manufacturer’s seven-year, 100,000-mile warranty, with separate eight-year cover for the battery.
Alongside the new model, Kia also introduced the Kia Business Solutions Ecosystem. This integrates charging, connectivity and fleet management tools into a single environment, combining Kia’s own services with third-party solutions.
The ecosystem includes access to more than one million public charging points across Europe, multi-brand fleet management through the Kia Pleos platform, and API-based data access for operators needing deeper integration with their existing systems. A dedicated fleet manager interface is due in 2026.
Kia says the expanding service layer is designed to support the PBV strategy as the PV5 range grows, with further business-focused services to be added in the coming months.
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