Kia PV5 and Tasman take centre stage at 2025 Seoul Mobility Show
At this year’s Seoul Mobility Show – held from 4 to 13 April at Kintex, Goyang, in South Korea – Kia made it abundantly clear that it no longer wants to be known just as a carmaker. Long associated with passenger vehicles and SUVs, Kia is now steering into commercial waters – and it’s doing so with two new vehicles: the futuristic PV5 and the rugged new Tasman bakkie.
Both models took centre stage at the Kia exhibition stand, offering vastly different but equally significant glimpses into the company’s commercial ambitions. One is a tech-filled van that looks like it rolled off a sci-fi film set; the other is a brawny, go-anywhere bakkie built to compete with the toughest names in the business.
PV5: A glimpse into the future of work and play
According to Kia, the PV5 is more than just a van – it’s a “mobile lifestyle hub”. Developed as part of the brand’s Platform Beyond Vehicle (PBV) initiative, the PV5 aims to redefine what we expect from commercial transport. Think less “white delivery van” and more “smart office on wheels”.
At the Seoul Mobility Show, Kia showed Koreans the PV5 for the first time (the world premiere took place in Barcelona earlier this year). The company also unveiled two PV5 concept vehicles: the Spielraum Studio and the Spielraum Glow. The term “Spielraum” – German for “play space” – hints at the flexible, multi-purpose nature of these vans.
The Spielraum Studio is geared towards entrepreneurs and remote workers. Packed with LG Electronics’ AI-powered gadgets – like smart mirrors, coffee machines, and even modular clothes steamers – it allows professionals to conduct business while on the move. The AI can juggle a calendar, plot travel time, and even tweak the appliance settings to match the driver’s schedule.
Meanwhile, the Spielraum Glow targets leisure seekers – think glamping, picnics, and outdoor escapades. With fridges, ovens, wine chillers, and LED MoodUP panels that change colour depending on your mood, it’s essentially a rolling lounge for the outdoorsy type.
Kia and LG have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to bring these PV5 concepts to life by the second half of 2026. We don’t know when the concept vehicles or the “regular” PV5 will come to South Africa (this has yet to be announced). However, the standard PV5 is launching in Europe later this year.
Tasman: Big, bold leap into the bakkie market
On the other end of the commercial spectrum is the big, brash and bold Kia Tasman, which turned many heads at the Seoul Mobility Show. Unveiled globally last October, the Tasman is Kia’s first-ever bakkie, and it’s designed to go head-to-head with stalwarts like the Ford Ranger and Toyota Hilux.
Built on a body-on-frame platform, the Tasman doesn’t mess about. It’s got muscle – a 2.5-litre petrol engine or a 2.2-litre diesel, depending on the market – and it’s been tested in everything from the deserts of the Middle East to Korean mountain trails. The petrol engine – delivering 207kW of power and 421Nm of torque – is matched to an eight-speed automatic transmission, and the diesel engine – offering 154kW of power and 440Nm of torque – comes with a choice of an eight-speed automatic or six-speed manual transmissions. It boasts a payload of over 1,000kg and 3,500kg of towing capacity.
But it’s not all brawn. The interior is surprisingly plush, with a panoramic digital dashboard, folding console table, and rear seats that recline up to 30 degrees – unheard of in this segment. Tech-wise, there’s everything from dual wireless charging pads to ADAS with trailer profile functionality. Oh, and did we mention the sliding cargo floor and illuminated load bed?
Expected to launch in South Korea first (mid-2025), the Tasman will then roll out to Australia, Africa, and the Middle East. South Africa is a key market – with local availability expected in the third or fourth quarter of this year.
From cars to commercials
Together, the PV5 and Tasman showcase Kia’s growing interest in the commercial space. For a brand long associated with practical hatchbacks and family SUVs, this is quite some evolution.
The 2025 Seoul Mobility Show may have featured flashy supercars and next-gen EVs from various automakers but, at the Kia stand, the message was clear: this brand is looking beyond the private driveway. Whether you’re transporting goods in Johannesburg or setting up a mobile café in Cape Town, Kia wants to be part of your working day – and your weekend escape, too.
