Kia Australia says its extensive dealer network, strong resale values and low ownership costs will be key factors in the success of its new PV5 Cargo electric van alongside more affordable Chinese competitors.
When pricing was announced in April 2026, the PV5 Cargo was Australia’s cheapest electric van at $55,990 before on-road costs. Since then, however, it has been usurped by two new models: the Farizon V7E priced from $49,990 drive-away, and the LDV eDeliver 5 priced from $47,990 drive-away.
The PV5, V7E and eDeliver 5 will compete in a previously sparsely populated space between compact electric vans such as the Renault Kangoo E-Tech (priced from $61,990 plus on-roads) and Peugeot E-Partner ($59,990 plus ORCs), and larger and more expensive mid-size electric vans including the LDV eDeliver 7 (from $67,358 plus ORCs), Volkswagen ID. Buzz Cargo (from $69,990 plus ORCs), and Ford E-Transit Custom (from $77,890 plus ORCs).
But Kia Australia fleet general manager Chris Forbes says purchase price isn’t everything in the new-vehicle world, and he expects lower total ownership costs and a larger dealer network to help the PV5 succeed.
Looking for your next car? We’ll help you research and compare so you choose with confidence.
“I think there’s always going to be a cheaper something,” he told CarExpert at the Australian media launch of the PV5 Cargo.
“If price was the only thing that people went on, then so be it, but in this instance we’re seeing some positives around whole-of-life costs.
“That’s looking at resale value, that’s looking at service costs moving forward, and that’s obviously looking at the [electric] power as opposed to diesel.
“We’ve got so many dealers in great locations around Australia, and that is a big thing when we’re talking with fleet clients – let’s face it, the van is for fleet clients.”
Kia currently has 151 dealers across Australia, where the South Korean auto brand was established as a factory-run operation 29 years ago. LDV Australia, meanwhile, was established by independent distributor Ateco Automotive in 2014 and currently has 91 dealers.
Farizon is a much younger Chinese brand which set up shop locally in early 2025 via independent importer Jameel Motors. It currently has five dealer locations nationwide.
“We’ve got a fantastic dealer network around Australia, an established dealer network. We’ve got established clients and customers,” Mr Forbes said.
“Whether they’re tradies or whether they’re corporate clients or government clients, they know us and know our brand. That can’t be discounted when we’re looking at PV5 and who we’re trying to sell that vehicle to.”
Kia Australia has set a modest sales target of 50 units per month for the PV5, but it expects to exceed that target based on early responses from fleet buyers in particular.
While supply could become tight given the van’s success in markets like Europe and South Korea, that target would place the PV5 above most other electric vans on the sales charts.
Farizon sold 13 examples of the V7E in its first full month on sale (May 2026), while Volkswagen shifted 38 ID. Buzz Cargo vans in the same month. The cheapest of them all, the LDV eDeliver 5, won’t be on sale until next month (July 2026).
MORE: 2026 Farizon V7E electric van priced from under $50,000
MORE: LDV eDeliver 5 becomes Australia’s cheapest electric van
MORE: Explore the Kia PV5 showroom
