Kia Not Yet Interested in Bringing Affordable Electric Cars to Compete with Chinese Brands

KatadataOTO – The Indonesian automotive market is becoming more crowded with the arrival of new brands from China. Many of them offer affordable electric cars, sold at a lower price than most other EVs (electric vehicles) in their class.

This has become an attractive alternative for many consumers. Many manufacturers besides China actually also have products with competitive price tags.

However, Kia, as one of the South Korean brands in the country, admits it is not yet interested in bringing in affordable electric cars.

PT KIA (Kreta Indo Artha) emphasized that Kia will still focus on targeting middle to upper-class consumers amidst the influx of Chinese brands.

Photo : KatadataOTO

“We are focused on improving our programs, so that people can more easily get our products. To meet their needs, we will maintain and improve the build quality,” said Andri Gunawan, Sales Operation of PT KIA in Jakarta, recently.

It should be noted that in Indonesia, Kia has two electric car models in the premium segment, namely the EV6 and the EV9.

In the global market, there is actually a model with smaller dimensions, touted as a mini version of the EV9, the EV3.

The EV3 has been brought to Indonesia before, specifically at the GJAW 2024 event. However, Kia has not yet opened orders for it.

Even if it enters the domestic market, its price may not necessarily be cheaper than Kia's other electric car lineup.

“We remain in a segment that prioritizes safety, for Kia at the moment. We also maintain durability and more advanced features,” Andri affirmed.

The company is confident that all products offered by Kia meet the needs of domestic consumers.

“We are currently studying with the principal whether the (EV3) would be suitable for the Indonesian market,” said Andri.

Photo : Special

For your information, Kia sells gasoline-powered, hybrid, and EV cars. Prices start from Rp 350 million.

Their hybrid model is the Carnival MPV (multi-purpose vehicle), offered from Rp 960 million to Rp 1.15 billion on the road in Jakarta.

Meanwhile, the EV6 crossover SUV is available in two types, GT-Line and GT, priced from Rp 1.34 billion to Rp 1.79 billion.

Above that is the 6-seater configuration SUV, the EV9 GT-Line, at Rp 1.98 billion. Kia also offers a new type with a lower price of Rp 1.56 billion, namely the EV9 Earth.