Kia Teases EV9 Concept Ahead of Reveal

Like nearly every other major automaker, Kia has its sights on a future dominated by electric vehicles (EVs). The South Korean company’s first electric vehicle, the EV6, is already on sale in its home country and will soon hit the streets of North America. Today, the automaker shared official images of the EV9, a larger electric SUV concept. Kia will officially reveal the EV9 concept at AutoMobility LA (the Los Angeles Auto Show) on Wednesday, November 17, at 11:15 a.m. PST.

It’s important to note that the EV9 is just a concept at this stage in the game, and Kia’s images are much closer to artist sketches than they are detailed vehicle photographs. Still, the EV9’s proportional differences to the EV6 are evident. The 9 features a more muscular shape with a boxier roofline that slopes less dramatically than the EV6.

Renderings of the EV9’s cabin show a minimalist space with a unique oblong steering wheel and a large screen that stretches from the gauge cluster in front of the driver to the area usually occupied by an infotainment screen. Few concepts make it into production without significant changes. Still, the EV9 renders show a cabin free of buttons, replaced by what looks like projected touch controls below the center display.

Kia delivered 2,654 EV6 units in South Korea during September, which comprised 7.4 percent of its overall vehicle sales in the country. Tack on an additional 90 units for Europe, and the automaker’s total comes to 2,744 for September. Kia’s total EV sales to date in 2021 tally 55,000 units, including the Soul EV and Niro EV. That’s before the EV6 crossover hits driveways in the United States.

Kia’s plan for EV world domination starts in its home country of South Korea before expanding to other global markets. The EV6 is Kia’s first, but the automaker’s EV roadmap includes at least seven other models that share parent Hyundai Motor Group’s E-GMP electric platform.

Kia is the source of information for this article. It was accurate on November 11, 2021, but it may have changed since that date.