Kia India to launch EV9 electric SUV next year

The EV9 SUV is part of the Kia 2.0 transformation strategy for India.

Published On Jul 04, 2023 11:00:00 PM

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Production-spec Kia EV9's styling largely resembes the concept.

EV9's styling cues will be seen on more Kia models.

Kia EV9 is loaded with tech.

EV9 gets three-row cabin with multiple seating options.

Kia will bring the EV9, its flagship electric SUV, to India next year. The South Korean brand had showcased the EV9 in concept form earlier this year at Auto Expo 2023. The production-spec EV9 made its global debut in March 2023.

Kia EV9 will sit above the EV6 in India
Gets a three-row cabin with many seating layouts
Comes with RWD, AWD, multiple range options

EV9 part of Kia 2.0 strategy for India

Kia India has revealed a new transformation strategy called Kia 2.0 in which the brand has set a target of 10 percent market share in the highly competitive Indian market in the next few years. As part of the new strategy, Kia will introduce more models in the market like the EV9, and will also double its touchpoints to around 600 in order to further grow its volumes and market share in the country.

Coming back to the EV9, the all-electric SUV will go on sale in India sometime next year and will be Kia's second EV for India after the EV6. Taejin Park, Kia India CEO, said, "Next year, we also want to bring the EV9, which is really high in the EV product range." Kia wants to have a top-down strategy with its electric vehicles in India with the new EV9 and EV6 sitting at the premium end of the EV market, while an all-new made-in-India mass market EV will be hitting showrooms only by 2025.

EV9 is Kia's flagship model globally

The EV9 is Kia's most expensive and largest electric SUV globally and the first all-new Kia designed entirely under the stewardship of ex-BMW stylist Karim Habib. The EV9 is a properly upright SUV with a clearly defined two-box design. It gets bold styling cues that are slowly making their way on other Kia models. It gets a three-row cabin, and depending on the variant, gets multiple seating layouts. Kia says the EV9 electric SUV is its answer to similarly priced and sized electric SUVs from BMW, Audi and Mercedes-Benz.

Kia EV9: battery, powertrain and range options

Three powertrain choices are available on the EV9 internationally. The range starts with the EV9 RWD, which gets a 76.1kWh battery, and next in line is the EV9 RWD long-range variant that gets a 99.8kWh battery. The top-spec EV9 AWD gets two electric motors. Kia has not revealed the range figure for the top-spec EV9.

Kia EV9: India launch details

Upon launch, the EV9 will be the most expensive Kia in India. It rivals the BMW iX in some markets and going by the pricing of the fully imported BMW iX In India, which starts upwards of Rs 1 crore, we expect the EV9 to also be priced similarly. The SUV will be sold in limited numbers as a full import, similar to its German rival. Apart from the EV9, the all-new Carnival MPV and the Sonet facelift are expected to go on sale in India next year.

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