Kia has signed an agreement with MK Holdings to supply purpose-built electric vans for taxi and chauffeur services in Japan. The deal was signed at Kia's Yangjae headquarters in Seoul. Kia PBV Business Division head Kim Sang-dae and MK Holdings President Aoki Nobuaki attended, The Asia Business Daily reports.
The plan
- 40 PV5 vans by the end of 2026, then a total of 1,000 PBVs by 2030.
- The vehicles will be used for taxis, premium chauffeur services and airport pickups.
- Four PV5s have been operating as MK Taxi vehicles in the Kyoto area since late October, BusinessKorea says.
MK Holdings runs taxis, sightseeing buses and other services in eight Japanese cities, including Kyoto, Osaka and Nagoya.
Built for Japan
The Japan-spec PV5 has CHAdeMO charging as standard. It has a 2,995 mm wheelbase and a 5.5 m turning radius for Japan's narrow streets. Kia will handle maintenance, technical support and parts. Local sales and the dealer network will be run by Kia PBV Japan, which BusinessKorea says is fully owned by the trading company Sojitz. The companies also plan displays and test drives at MK Holdings sites.