Checkmate Tesla and BYD? How Kia is preparing to blow the roof off the world's biggest electric car makers with a full range of electric cars including the EV4, PV5 and possible Picanto-sized EV1

Kia has revealed its new path to global EV domination.

The South Korean brand debuted several new models and hinted at even more at its recent EV Day.

It took the covers off its Tesla Model 3 and BYD Seal rivalling EV4 sedan, which also has the added bonus of being offered as a hatchback.

Kia debuted the PV5 van and people mover alongside its European-focused EV2 small SUV.

These cars are all due shortly and will join the EV3 compact SUV, EV5 mid-size SUV, EV6 coupe SUV and the EV9 seven-seat SUV in its global line-up.

Kia Australia has committed to the EV4, and would like the PV5 but has not confirmed its availability yet. The EV2 is off the cards as it is built in Slovakia and the business case for an affordable European-sourced EV doesn’t stack up.

2025 Kia EV Day range

The company’s president Ho Sung Song, also let slip that a micro EV1 electric car is essential to mass adoption of its EVs.

“If we want to move to the late majority customer target group, definitely we need a lower size of model – or a lower-price model – and we are internally studying what will be our entry EV models, apart from our EV2,” said Song.

“Maybe next EV Day, we’ll show you what we are planning.”

This could mean an electric version of the pint-sized Picanto hatchback, which would be a direct rival to budget EVs such as the BYD Seagull that is sold overseas but not Australia.

Kia would be targeting the sub-$30,000 range if it wanted to be competitive at the lower end of the market.

This line-up, with the addition of the EV1, puts Kia well ahead of Tesla — currently the world largest EV maker — and would put it on a collision course with the surging BYD.

Kia has a distinct advantage, though.

Tesla has ruled out smaller and more affordable cars and BYD is locked out of the US market and is hamstrung by tariffs in Europe.