Kia's first vehicle built on parent Hyundai Motor Group's new E-GMP modular electric platform is likely to quickly become the brand's best-selling full-electric car in Europe.
The EV will be a crossover with design cues from the Imagine concept unveiled at the 2019 Geneva auto show.
Kia expects to sell 10,000 to 15,000 units of the model in Europe this year, following its launch in September, Kia Europe Chief Operating Officer Emilio Herrera told Automotive News Europe.
The crossover will offer European buyers of compact cars a battery-powered vehicle with SUV styling. Current compact EVs sold in Europe include the Volkswagen ID3 and BMW i3 hatchbacks. Renault will join the segment with a production version of its Megane eVision at the end of the year and Citroen already offers a battery-powered version of its new C4 compact called the ë-C4.