The EV9 SUV is part of the Kia 2.0 transformation strategy for India.
Kia will bring the EV9, its flagship electric SUV to India next year. The Korean brand had showcased the EV9 in concept form earlier this year at Auto Expo 2023. The production-spec EV9 made its global debut in March 2023.
- Kia EV9 will sit above the EV6 in India
- Gets a three-row cabin with many seating layouts
- Comes with RWD, AWD, multiple range options
EV9 part of Kia 2.0 strategy for India
Kia India has revealed a new transformation strategy called Kia 2.0 in which the brand has set a target of 10% market share in the highly competitive Indian market in the next few years. As part of the Kia 2.0 strategy, Kia will introduce new models in the market like the EV9 and will also double its touchpoints to around 600 in order to further grow its volumes and market share in the country.
Coming back to the EV9, the all-electric SUV will go on sale in India sometime next year and will be Kia’s second EV for India after the EV6. Tae Jin Park, Kia India CEO said “The next year, we also want to bring the EV9, which is really high in the EV product range.” Kia wants to have a top-down strategy with its electric vehicles in India with the new EV9 and EV6 sitting at the premium end of the Indian EV market and an all-new made-in-India mass market EV hitting the showrooms by 2025.
The EV9 is Kia’s most expensive and largest EV SUV globally and first all-new Kia designed entirely under the stewardship of ex-BMW stylist Karim Habib. The EV9 is a properly upright SUV with a clearly defined two-box design. It gets bold styling cues that are slowly making their way on other Kia models. it gets a three row cabin with multiple seating layouts depending on variant. Kia says the three-row EV9 all electric SUV is its answer to similarly priced and sized EV SUVs from BMW, Audi and Mercedes-Benz.
Kia EV9: battery, powertrain and range options
Three powertrain choices are available on the EV9 internationally. Starting the proceedings is the EV9 RWD that gets a 76.1 kWh battery with a single rear mounted 160kw motor. It churns out 215hp and 350Nm of torque. This variant, according to Kia has 358km range. The next in line is the EV9 RWD long range variant that gets a 99.8 kWh battery and a 150kw (201hp) motor. This variant delivers 541km range according to WLTP cycle. The top spec EV9 AWD gets two electric motors that deliver a combined 283 kw (380hp and 600Nm of torque). Kia has not revealed the range figure for the top-spec EV9.
Kia EV9: India launch details
The EV9, just like many other markets overseas, will be the most expensive Kia in India. It rivals the BMW iX in some markets and going by the pricing of the fully imported BMW ix In India which starts upwards of Rs 1 crore, we expect Kia to price the EV9 around Rs 1 crore mark in our market. The SUV will be sold in limited numbers as a full import, similar to its German rival. Apart from the EV9, the all-new Carnival MPV and the Sonet facelift are expected to go on sale in India next year.
