Kia has taken home one of the commercial vehicle industry’s biggest titles, with the all-electric PV5 named 2026 International Van of the Year (IVOTY) at SOLUTRANS in Lyon.
It’s a notable moment for the Korean brand, not just because the PV5 is its first electric van, but because it becomes the first Korean model to win the award in the competition’s 34-year history.
A unanimous decision from the IVOTY jury
The PV5 was selected by all 26 jury members - a panel of commercial vehicle journalists who assess each contender on how it improves productivity, efficiency, safety and environmental performance in real-world use. According to the jury, it led the field on innovation and day-to-day capability, beating six other shortlisted vans.
The award also gives Kia a rare double: a brand known for its globally recognised EV passenger cars now has a leading light commercial vehicle to match.
The van itself: range, charging and real-world numbers
The PV5 is the first model in Kia’s PBV (Platform Beyond Vehicle) family and sits on a dedicated electric platform - the E-GMP.S. Two versions are available at launch in Europe: the Cargo Long and Passenger 5-seater, both offering more than 410 km WLTP range depending on configuration.
DC charging from 10 to 80 percent takes around half an hour, and the Cargo Long variant carries up to 790 kg. Kia also points to a verified GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ run, setting the longest distance travelled by a fully loaded electric van on a single charge - 693.38 km.
Three battery options are offered (43.3, 51.5 and 71.2 kWh), allowing fleets to balance cost, payload and duty cycle.
Designed for business: modularity, digital services, and straightforward repairs
Kia says the PV5 was shaped heavily by conversations with fleet operators during development, and it shows in the way the platform has been built to accommodate multiple upper-body modules. A flat floor and structured mounting points mean straightforward upfitting, while exterior components are modular to reduce repair complexity.
Inside, the van features Kia’s next generation of digital tools: an AI assistant, an app marketplace, and integrated fleet-management services designed to keep vehicles in use rather than in workshops.
Safety and chassis engineering
Underneath the bodywork sits a reinforced multi-load-path structure with expanded use of high-strength steel and EV-specific battery protection. The driver-assistance package includes Surround View Monitoring, Lane Keeping Assist and a set of systems aimed at supporting low-speed manoeuvring in busy urban environments.
Kia’s entry into the eLCV sector
Kia’s senior leadership has been unusually explicit about how central PBVs are to the company’s future. The PV5 is the first model to go on sale, with the PV7 and PV9 to follow. More body types for the PV5 - including a Chassis Cab, standard wheelbase and high roof variants - will arrive from 2026.
For a brand entering the European LCV market for the first time, landing IVOTY on debut gives the PV5 a clear foothold. Fleets will now want to see how the van performs away from the stage lights: durability, residual values, real-world uptime and how the modular body system behaves across differing duty cycles.
But for now, Kia has what most rivals would want: a technically strong first product, early validation from industry scrutiny, and a new commercial platform that already appears set for expansion.
