[News Terms] Inside and Outside the Car, Customized to My Taste... 'Purpose-Built Vehicle (PBV)'

On the 9th, the Kia booth at the 'CES 2024' event held in Las Vegas, USA, was bustling with crowds of visitors eager to check out the displayed vehicles and listen to explanations. Under the theme of 'Inspiring Space,' Kia unveiled five vehicles from its upcoming Purpose Built Vehicle (PBV) concept lineup at this CES, announcing plans to lead the future mobility market.

PBV, known in Korean as 'Mokjeok Giban Chaeryang' or 'Mokjeok Giban Mobility,' refers to multipurpose mobility solutions that can be customized to meet various customer needs by changing their intended use. These include various types such as campers, delivery vehicles, food trucks, and taxis. Except for the driver's seat, all interior and exterior space designs, seat arrangements, and electronic devices can be customized and designed, earning PBVs the reputation of being not just 'vehicles' but 'moving living spaces.'

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Hyundai Motor Company first introduced the PBV concept at CES in 2020. At that time, Hyundai unveiled its future mobility vision, mentioning PBVs alongside Urban Air Mobility (UAM) and hub/mobility transfer points (Hub), emphasizing that these three components should be closely interconnected. With the spread of COVID-19, more customers began using campers instead of accommodations during travel, and the demand for various delivery vehicles surged due to increased contactless delivery services and online shopping. Consequently, global automakers such as Toyota, General Motors (GM), and Ford also jumped into the PBV market one after another.

At CES this year, Kia redefined the PBV concept as a 'Platform Beyond Vehicle.' Through the PBV business, Kia aims to meet diverse customer and community needs with vehicles and services optimized for the global market and business environment, surpassing the traditional concept of automobiles. To this end, Kia plans to launch its first mid-sized PBV, the 'PV5,' in 2025 and actively expand the business.

The PV5 exhibited at CES 2024 featured easily attachable and detachable modules, demonstrating how a single vehicle can be transformed to suit various purposes. Inside, it applied a sliding-type bi-directional flip seat that allows free directional changes without rotating the seat. It also includes features for the convenience of mobility-impaired individuals, such as a lift for easy wheelchair access.

Kia also showcased the 'PV1,' a compact model designed for short-distance logistics transport, and the large 'PV7,' suitable for long-distance logistics transport. Equipped with a driving module that minimizes turning radius, these vehicles can perform right-angle driving, diagonal driving, on-the-spot rotation, and pivot turns (freely rotating around a set central axis), enabling quick movement even in narrow spaces. Kia has set a goal to sell more than 300,000 PBVs annually by 2030 and become the global number one in this market.