Africa Automotive News September-October digital issue 2019

Review
Kia may launch electric Picanto
Kia could launch an electric
version of the Picanto minicar if
the automaker can find ways to
reduce costs to make the car affordable.
A battery-powered Picanto will be “a
big challenge,” said Emilio Herrera, Kia
Motor Europe’s chief oprating officer. “But
sooner or later, we will have to do it.”
Automakers are rethinking small-car
strategy in Europe in response to tougher
European Union emissions limits that will
force them to add costly new technology
to cars that already bring in low profits.
Ford will stop selling its Ka+ in the region
while Opel is dropping its Karl and Adam
models.
Volkswagen Group is expected to replace
its VW Up, Skoda Citigo and Seat Mii
internal combustion cars with battery only
models. Seat has been tasked developing
small EVs for the group that will cost less
than 20,000 euros.
At the Frankfurt auto show this month,
Renault said it is working to launch a
10,000-euro electric vehicle in Europe
within five years.
Herrera said he is skeptical that Renault
will achieve the goal. “I think that is a very
bold statement because one of the most
challenging things we have is to make all
EVs profitable. And the smaller the car,
the more complicated it is. So to have a
10,000-euro EV in that time frame, I see
it very challenging and not very realistic,”
said Herrera.
Despite this, Herrera said Kia is looking
into the possibility of an electric Picanto.
“There’s nothing confirmed yet, but we
are really looking at it,” he said. He gave
no time frame for a decision.
The price of the current Picanto with a
gasoline engine starts at 10,290 euros in
Germany but drops to 10,000 euros with
discounts, Herrera said. A fully equipped
version can sell for more than 17,000
euros. A Picanto EV would currently cost
close to 20,000 euros, he said.
Herrera said Kia needs to reduce
production costs for a Picanto EV to
34 Africa Automotive News l 2019 September-October issue l 2019