Kia unveils first PBV store in Japan for PV5 electric van sales
Created by Sojitz Corp., Kia PBV Japan will run the Nishitokyo outlet, display four to six vehicles and seek 1,000 sales in fiscal 2026.
- Kia has opened its first Purpose-Built Vehicle (PBV) store in Nishitokyo, Japan, to begin sales of its PV5 midsize electric van.
- The store and its operations will be managed by Kia PBV Japan Corp., a company established by the trading house Sojitz Corp.
- Kia is targeting Japan's commercial van market, specifically businesses like delivery services, due to a lack of competitors in the electric van segment.
- The company plans to expand with more outlets in other Japanese prefectures, aiming to sell 1,000 units by fiscal 2026.
South Korean automaker Kia Corp. is preparing to open its first Kia PBV store in Japan on Friday after showing the outlet to the press on Wednesday (May 13), paving the way for sales of its PV5 midsize electric van.
The store, located in Nishitokyo, Tokyo, will be operated by Kia PBV Japan Corp., a company established by trading house Sojitz Corp. The unit will be responsible for vehicle sales as well as after-sales services.
The Nishitokyo site will keep four to six vehicles on display at all times. Kia PBV Japan also plans to add outlets in Aichi Prefecture in central Japan, Fukuoka Prefecture in southwestern Japan and other locations, with a target of selling 1,000 units in fiscal 2026.
The PV5, one of Kia’s key models sold worldwide, is designed to let users flexibly change both the number of seats and their layout according to their needs.
Kia chose Japan’s midsize van segment because the field has relatively few competitors. Its main customers are expected to be commercial businesses, including delivery service companies.
“We want to expand our market at a time when there are still few options for EV vans in Japan,” said Yasunari Tajima, president of Kia PBV Japan.
[Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]
