Kia showcases small EV3, EV4 concepts at L.A. Auto Show

LOS ANGELES — Kia America has vowed to launch eight EVs in the U.S. by 2029 and convert half of its sales from gasoline to electric by early 2030.

During a press conference Thursday, Nov. 16, at the Los Angeles Auto Show — a venue increasingly dominated by new electric vehicles thanks to its location in the nation's largest EV market — the Korean automaker doubled down on that promise with a pair of new compact electric concepts, the Seltos-size EV3 crossover and the EV4, a sedan with dimensions similar to the Kia Forte.

Kia America COO Steve Center described the vehicles in a statement as "sharply styled, material-driven concepts," and called California the "barometer for successful EVs."

"That's why we came to Los Angeles and America's savviest EV consumers — to gauge reaction to two potential opportunities within the Kia lineup," Center said.

U.S. dealers are already waiting for Kia's deliveries of the EV9, its first mainstream three-row electric vehicle, which will start at $54,900 before shipping when it goes on sale in the next few weeks. But now Kia is forging ahead into its next phase of bringing electric vehicles to the masses.

The EV3 and EV4 made their world debuts last month in South Korea at the company's first Kia EV Day strategy briefing. Kia Corp. CEO Ho Sung Song said the new models will be part of a lineup of four affordable EVs that will start in the mid-$30,000 range and help spur wider EV adoption.

Kia has recently moved its EV concepts into production, as evidenced by the EV9, unveiled as a concept at the L.A. Auto Show two years ago.

The EV5, a smaller version of the EV9, was revealed in concept form earlier this year. And at last month's Kia EV Day, the production version shared a stage with the EV3 and EV4 concepts.

The EV3 and EV4 are expected to start production in Korea in 2024. After that, the pair could move to Kia's factory in Monterrey, Mexico, which would need to undergo upgrades for electrification.

Kia has not confirmed its intent to build EVs in Mexico, but Samuel Garcia, governor of the Mexican state of Nuevo Leon, said company officials expressed interest in investing $1 billion to upgrade its factory, which builds the gasoline-powered Rio and Forte.

Moving production to North America would better position the EV3 and EV4 for the $7,500 federal EV tax incentive.

Kia said the EV3 concept represents its vision of an attainable electric crossover that offers technology, practicality and design reminiscent of Kia's flagship EV9.

The EV3 is sleeker than the boxy EV9. The small vehicle's sloping roofline and disconnected C-pillar create a detached greenhouse look. Its squared wheel arches and geometric wheel design oddly complement each other and add to the EV's distinctive Kia look.

Its interior is open with clean dashboard surfacing and ergonomic seats that are slimmer and more lightweight. The seat covers are constructed of a 3D knit technology. The center console armrest slides to four positions — focus, social, refreshing and storage.

The EV4 is a reimagined four-door sedan with a low nose, long tail and roof spoiler. The hatch teeters on the edge of 1980s styling, especially from the side, but the nose and its generally geometric aesthetic are closer to the EV6.

Its stance is wide with headlamps pushed to the outer edges of the hood and front bumper.

The interior is minimally designed with a horizontal layout. Its HVAC panel can be stowed when not in use and the air vents can change patterns.

Interiors of both the EV3 and EV4 use the 10 "must-have" sustainable items that Kia intends to incorporate into future models following the EV9.

That list includes bioplastic, produced from biomass sources such as vegetable oils, corn extract, sawdust and sugar cane, and bio polyurethane as a replacement for animal-based leather.