Cut-price electric Kia Picanto replacement coming to take on BYD Seagull
Speaking to UK publication Autocar, Kia president and CEO Ho Sung Song said a cheaper, smaller electric city car, which could be called the EV1, was "homework" for the company's product developers, confirming such a car was "one area we are studying and developing".
Mr Song also said affordable, city-sized cars would remain an important part of the brand's lineup as European buyers move towards EVs.
Kia technically already offers a city-sized EV – the Picanto-based Ray – but this tall, boxy model is exclusive to Korea.
Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now.
The new city EV would take over from Kia's entry-level petrol-powered Picanto – currently Australia's cheapest new car – which was significantly updated in 2023 and still sells strongly in Europe.
With a replacement still as far off as 2028-2029, the Picanto's successor could well ditch the current version's 1.2-litre four-cylinder petrol engine to become a battery-electric city hatch.
It would face the BYD Seagull, set to go on sale in the United Kingdom later this year as the Dolphin Surf, at less than £20,000 ($41,874).
The Seagull is under consideration for Australian showrooms and could become the cheapest EV offered here, given it would sit below the current price leader – the BYD Dolphin electric hatch at $29,990 drive-away.
Even then, the current petrol Picanto could remain on sale alongside a newer, electric offering in Kia showrooms.
Other brands have also planned this approach, such as Volkswagen, which intends to sell the petrol-powered Golf alongside battery-electric versions well into next decade.
Kia has been prolific in rolling out new EVs. Its smallest, the funky EV2 five-door SUV, is due on sale overseas in 2026 but is unlikely to be offered here.
The Kia EV4 electric sedan – a Tesla Model 3 rival – is scheduled to arrive in Australia in the last quarter (October-December) of 2025, joining the EV3, EV5, EV6 and EV9 electric Kias currently in Australian showrooms.
The EV5 has been Kia Australia's most popular EV so far in 2025 and the fourth-most popular EV overall, with 2765 delivered to the end of June – putting it behind the third-place Model 3 with the MG 4 behind in fifth.
Mr Song said Europe will "drive volume from a full EV lineup" because of a "strong trend" towards electric cars – yet internal combustion engines will remain important in emerging markets lacking electric-charging infrastructure.
It will also enable Kia to maintain a flexible approach to respond to market trends when necessary.
"The final destination in Europe is EVs, which is why I want to be a very strong EV player in Europe… but if we look at worldwide demand we should have alternative powertrains, like hybrids, plug-in [hybrids] and EREVs [extended-range electric vehicles]," he said.
Sales of hybrids in Australia in the first six months of 2025 increased 14.9 per cent, following a 76 per cent jump in popularity in 2024, while key markets – including China and the United States – have also seen significant hybrid growth.
MORE: Everything BYD
Content originally sourced from: CarExpert.com.au
Kia has confirmed it's planning an affordable city-sized electric car – even smaller than the 2026 Kia EV2 already announced – and much would be a direct competitor to the BYD Seagull, Dacia Spring and Fiat 500e.
Speaking to UK publication Autocar, Kia president and CEO Ho Sung Song said a cheaper, smaller electric city car, which could be called the EV1, was "homework" for the company's product developers, confirming such a car was "one area we are studying and developing".
Mr Song also said affordable, city-sized cars would remain an important part of the brand's lineup as European buyers move towards EVs.
Kia technically already offers a city-sized EV – the Picanto-based Ray – but this tall, boxy model is exclusive to Korea.
Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now.
The new city EV would take over from Kia's entry-level petrol-powered Picanto – currently Australia's cheapest new car – which was significantly updated in 2023 and still sells strongly in Europe.
With a replacement still as far off as 2028-2029, the Picanto's successor could well ditch the current version's 1.2-litre four-cylinder petrol engine to become a battery-electric city hatch.
It would face the BYD Seagull, set to go on sale in the United Kingdom later this year as the Dolphin Surf, at less than £20,000 ($41,874).
The Seagull is under consideration for Australian showrooms and could become the cheapest EV offered here, given it would sit below the current price leader – the BYD Dolphin electric hatch at $29,990 drive-away.
Even then, the current petrol Picanto could remain on sale alongside a newer, electric offering in Kia showrooms.
Other brands have also planned this approach, such as Volkswagen, which intends to sell the petrol-powered Golf alongside battery-electric versions well into next decade.
Kia has been prolific in rolling out new EVs. Its smallest, the funky EV2 five-door SUV, is due on sale overseas in 2026 but is unlikely to be offered here.
The Kia EV4 electric sedan – a Tesla Model 3 rival – is scheduled to arrive in Australia in the last quarter (October-December) of 2025, joining the EV3, EV5, EV6 and EV9 electric Kias currently in Australian showrooms.
The EV5 has been Kia Australia's most popular EV so far in 2025 and the fourth-most popular EV overall, with 2765 delivered to the end of June – putting it behind the third-place Model 3 with the MG 4 behind in fifth.
Mr Song said Europe will "drive volume from a full EV lineup" because of a "strong trend" towards electric cars – yet internal combustion engines will remain important in emerging markets lacking electric-charging infrastructure.
It will also enable Kia to maintain a flexible approach to respond to market trends when necessary.
"The final destination in Europe is EVs, which is why I want to be a very strong EV player in Europe… but if we look at worldwide demand we should have alternative powertrains, like hybrids, plug-in [hybrids] and EREVs [extended-range electric vehicles]," he said.
Sales of hybrids in Australia in the first six months of 2025 increased 14.9 per cent, following a 76 per cent jump in popularity in 2024, while key markets – including China and the United States – have also seen significant hybrid growth.
MORE: Everything BYD
Content originally sourced from: CarExpert.com.au
Kia has confirmed it's planning an affordable city-sized electric car – even smaller than the 2026 Kia EV2 already announced – and much would be a direct competitor to the BYD Seagull, Dacia Spring and Fiat 500e.
Speaking to UK publication Autocar, Kia president and CEO Ho Sung Song said a cheaper, smaller electric city car, which could be called the EV1, was "homework" for the company's product developers, confirming such a car was "one area we are studying and developing".
Mr Song also said affordable, city-sized cars would remain an important part of the brand's lineup as European buyers move towards EVs.
Kia technically already offers a city-sized EV – the Picanto-based Ray – but this tall, boxy model is exclusive to Korea.
Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now.
The new city EV would take over from Kia's entry-level petrol-powered Picanto – currently Australia's cheapest new car – which was significantly updated in 2023 and still sells strongly in Europe.
With a replacement still as far off as 2028-2029, the Picanto's successor could well ditch the current version's 1.2-litre four-cylinder petrol engine to become a battery-electric city hatch.
It would face the BYD Seagull, set to go on sale in the United Kingdom later this year as the Dolphin Surf, at less than £20,000 ($41,874).
The Seagull is under consideration for Australian showrooms and could become the cheapest EV offered here, given it would sit below the current price leader – the BYD Dolphin electric hatch at $29,990 drive-away.
Even then, the current petrol Picanto could remain on sale alongside a newer, electric offering in Kia showrooms.
Other brands have also planned this approach, such as Volkswagen, which intends to sell the petrol-powered Golf alongside battery-electric versions well into next decade.
Kia has been prolific in rolling out new EVs. Its smallest, the funky EV2 five-door SUV, is due on sale overseas in 2026 but is unlikely to be offered here.
The Kia EV4 electric sedan – a Tesla Model 3 rival – is scheduled to arrive in Australia in the last quarter (October-December) of 2025, joining the EV3, EV5, EV6 and EV9 electric Kias currently in Australian showrooms.
The EV5 has been Kia Australia's most popular EV so far in 2025 and the fourth-most popular EV overall, with 2765 delivered to the end of June – putting it behind the third-place Model 3 with the MG 4 behind in fifth.
Mr Song said Europe will "drive volume from a full EV lineup" because of a "strong trend" towards electric cars – yet internal combustion engines will remain important in emerging markets lacking electric-charging infrastructure.
It will also enable Kia to maintain a flexible approach to respond to market trends when necessary.
"The final destination in Europe is EVs, which is why I want to be a very strong EV player in Europe… but if we look at worldwide demand we should have alternative powertrains, like hybrids, plug-in [hybrids] and EREVs [extended-range electric vehicles]," he said.
Sales of hybrids in Australia in the first six months of 2025 increased 14.9 per cent, following a 76 per cent jump in popularity in 2024, while key markets – including China and the United States – have also seen significant hybrid growth.
MORE: Everything BYD
Content originally sourced from: CarExpert.com.au
Kia has confirmed it's planning an affordable city-sized electric car – even smaller than the 2026 Kia EV2 already announced – and much would be a direct competitor to the BYD Seagull, Dacia Spring and Fiat 500e.
Speaking to UK publication Autocar, Kia president and CEO Ho Sung Song said a cheaper, smaller electric city car, which could be called the EV1, was "homework" for the company's product developers, confirming such a car was "one area we are studying and developing".
Mr Song also said affordable, city-sized cars would remain an important part of the brand's lineup as European buyers move towards EVs.
Kia technically already offers a city-sized EV – the Picanto-based Ray – but this tall, boxy model is exclusive to Korea.
Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now.
The new city EV would take over from Kia's entry-level petrol-powered Picanto – currently Australia's cheapest new car – which was significantly updated in 2023 and still sells strongly in Europe.
With a replacement still as far off as 2028-2029, the Picanto's successor could well ditch the current version's 1.2-litre four-cylinder petrol engine to become a battery-electric city hatch.
It would face the BYD Seagull, set to go on sale in the United Kingdom later this year as the Dolphin Surf, at less than £20,000 ($41,874).
The Seagull is under consideration for Australian showrooms and could become the cheapest EV offered here, given it would sit below the current price leader – the BYD Dolphin electric hatch at $29,990 drive-away.
Even then, the current petrol Picanto could remain on sale alongside a newer, electric offering in Kia showrooms.
Other brands have also planned this approach, such as Volkswagen, which intends to sell the petrol-powered Golf alongside battery-electric versions well into next decade.
Kia has been prolific in rolling out new EVs. Its smallest, the funky EV2 five-door SUV, is due on sale overseas in 2026 but is unlikely to be offered here.
The Kia EV4 electric sedan – a Tesla Model 3 rival – is scheduled to arrive in Australia in the last quarter (October-December) of 2025, joining the EV3, EV5, EV6 and EV9 electric Kias currently in Australian showrooms.
The EV5 has been Kia Australia's most popular EV so far in 2025 and the fourth-most popular EV overall, with 2765 delivered to the end of June – putting it behind the third-place Model 3 with the MG 4 behind in fifth.
Mr Song said Europe will "drive volume from a full EV lineup" because of a "strong trend" towards electric cars – yet internal combustion engines will remain important in emerging markets lacking electric-charging infrastructure.
It will also enable Kia to maintain a flexible approach to respond to market trends when necessary.
"The final destination in Europe is EVs, which is why I want to be a very strong EV player in Europe… but if we look at worldwide demand we should have alternative powertrains, like hybrids, plug-in [hybrids] and EREVs [extended-range electric vehicles]," he said.
Sales of hybrids in Australia in the first six months of 2025 increased 14.9 per cent, following a 76 per cent jump in popularity in 2024, while key markets – including China and the United States – have also seen significant hybrid growth.
MORE: Everything BYD
Content originally sourced from: CarExpert.com.au
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Sydney Morning Herald
2 hours ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
ASX set to slide as Wall Street slumps on Trump tariffs, jobs shock
The US stock market had its worst day since May on Friday after the government reported a sharp slowdown in hiring and President Donald Trump imposed sweeping tariffs on imports from a number of US trading partners. The S&P 500 fell 1.6 per cent, its biggest decline since May 21 and its fourth straight loss. The index also posted a 2.4 per cent loss for the week, marking a sharp shift from last week's record-setting streak of gains. The Dow Jones fell 1.2 per cent, while the Nasdaq composite fell 2.2 per cent. The Australian sharemarket is set to retreat, with futures pointing to a slide of 32 points, or 0.4 per cent, at the open. The Australian dollar was fetching 64.63 US cents at 5.19am AEST. Worries on Wall Street about a weakening economy were heavily reinforced by the latest report on job growth in the US Employers added just 73,000 jobs in July. That is sharply lower than economists expected. The Labor Department also reported that revisions shaved a stunning 258,000 jobs off May and June payrolls. Markets also reacted to the latest tariff news. President Donald Trump announced tariff rates on dozens of countries and pushed back the scheduled effective date to August 7, adding more uncertainty to the global trade picture. 'The market has been felled by a one-two punch of additional tariffs, as well as the weaker-than-expected employment data -— not only for this month, but for the downward revisions to the prior months,' said Sam Stovall, chief investment strategist at CFRA. Loading Trump's decision to order the immediate firing of the head of the government agency that produces the monthly jobs figures will only fuel the market's uncertainty, Stovall added. The surprisingly weak hiring numbers led investors to step up their expectations for an interest rate cut in September. The market's odds of a quarter-point cut by the Federal Reserve rose to around 87 per cent from just under 40 per cent a day earlier, according to data from CME FedWatch.
The Age
2 hours ago
- The Age
ASX set to slide as Wall Street slumps on Trump tariffs, jobs shock
The US stock market had its worst day since May on Friday after the government reported a sharp slowdown in hiring and President Donald Trump imposed sweeping tariffs on imports from a number of US trading partners. The S&P 500 fell 1.6 per cent, its biggest decline since May 21 and its fourth straight loss. The index also posted a 2.4 per cent loss for the week, marking a sharp shift from last week's record-setting streak of gains. The Dow Jones fell 1.2 per cent, while the Nasdaq composite fell 2.2 per cent. The Australian sharemarket is set to retreat, with futures pointing to a slide of 32 points, or 0.4 per cent, at the open. The Australian dollar was fetching 64.63 US cents at 5.19am AEST. Worries on Wall Street about a weakening economy were heavily reinforced by the latest report on job growth in the US Employers added just 73,000 jobs in July. That is sharply lower than economists expected. The Labor Department also reported that revisions shaved a stunning 258,000 jobs off May and June payrolls. Markets also reacted to the latest tariff news. President Donald Trump announced tariff rates on dozens of countries and pushed back the scheduled effective date to August 7, adding more uncertainty to the global trade picture. 'The market has been felled by a one-two punch of additional tariffs, as well as the weaker-than-expected employment data -— not only for this month, but for the downward revisions to the prior months,' said Sam Stovall, chief investment strategist at CFRA. Loading Trump's decision to order the immediate firing of the head of the government agency that produces the monthly jobs figures will only fuel the market's uncertainty, Stovall added. The surprisingly weak hiring numbers led investors to step up their expectations for an interest rate cut in September. The market's odds of a quarter-point cut by the Federal Reserve rose to around 87 per cent from just under 40 per cent a day earlier, according to data from CME FedWatch.
Sky News AU
2 hours ago
- Sky News AU
Caleb Bond: Forcing EVs on Australia's 4,000km terrain is just impractical - much like ripping up roads so two men and a dog in a sidecar can use a bike lane
You won't believe it but Australian cities are apparently some of the worst in the world for the ease of owning an electric vehicle. What a rotten bit of luck. This is according to consumer comparison service Compare the Market, which assessed global cities against the number of chargers, EVs and sales per capita, government incentives and the cost of power. The top 10 cities are, surprise surprise, all in Europe save for Montreal and the top three are all in the Netherlands. What could it be that makes EVs so much more popular in Europe than Australia? Oh, that's right – our country is nearly 4,000km wide and our capital cities have significant urban sprawl. In fact, our cities rank amongst the largest urban sprawls in the world per head of population. That, of course, is because we live in a big country with plenty of space so most of us choose not to live on top of each other – unlike those tiny European countries where that's just how things are done. Who would have thought that smaller countries, which naturally mean you have less distance to travel on a regular basis, would be more conducive to owning an EV? It has become blindingly obvious that the reduction in Australian EV sales is simply the result of market forces. It's not that people have anything particularly against electric vehicles themselves, they just want cars that are practical in a big country like Australia. If you only drive around the city then sure, you might be fine. But a lot of people don't. And it's ridiculous to expect a charger to be available everywhere in this wide brown land. Australia is not built to be an EV country in the same way it's not built to be a cycling country. The government can try to force EVs upon us with subsidies or whatever else they can dream up but, at some point, practicalities have to enter the equation. Just as councils can try to force us to ride bikes instead of driving cars by continually ripping out perfectly good lanes of traffic to replace them with sheltered bike lanes used by two men and a dog in a sidecar. Despite building all these bike lanes, nearly all of them are empty most of the time. I wonder why that might be? Oh, yes – we have that massive urban sprawl which means most people live a fair way from the CBD and find it far more comfortable to travel to town by car or public transport. It is no coincidence that the country recognised to be one of the most cycling-friendly in the world – the Netherlands – is also ranked the best for EVs. You can't force a square peg into a round hole. We just need to admit it. But we also mustn't forget the other great barrier to Australian EV ownership – the trifling issue of having to fill it up with electricity which, as I'm sure you know, is quite expensive. We have some of the most expensive electricity in the world, in fact. If only Albo gave us that $275 he promised us off our power bills, maybe it'd be a different story. Caleb Bond is the Host of The Sunday Showdown, Sundays at 7.00pm and co-host of The Late Debate Monday – Thursday at 10.00pm as well as a Contributor. Bond also writes a weekly opinion column for The Advertiser
