On paper, the Kia EV4 seemed like exactly what the American electric-vehicle market: a well-equipped, reasonably priced, battery-powered sedan with good range and tech features. It might’ve even been a decent competitor to the ubiquitous Tesla Model 3.
But Americans will never know now. The EV4’s U.S. release is no longer happening, at least for now, a Kia spokesperson confirmed to InsideEVs. “Kia’s full range of vehicles offers meaningful value and inspiring performance to customers,” he said. “However, as market conditions for EVs have changed, the release of the upcoming EV4 electric sedan will be delayed until further notice.”
This, even after the EV4 made its U.S. debut in April at the New York Auto Show. The South Korean-made sedan was due to have a Tesla-style North American Charging Standard (NACS) plug, offer up to 330 miles of range, and be priced in the $30,000 range. Built on a front- and all-wheel-drive version of the Hyundai Motor Group’s E-GMP electric platform, it swaps the 800-volt architecture seen on the Kia EV6 and EV9 for a 400-volt one, resulting in slower DC fast-charging speeds but also a lower price.
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Source: Kia
But even that may not have been enough to protect the EV4 from current headwinds. While Kia declined to comment on the specifics around the decision to delay the car, it’s not hard to surmise why: the end of the EV tax credits, as well as increased tariffs on South Korean goods, may have eroded its value proposition.
Meanwhile, its close counterpart, the boxy Kia EV3 crossover, has also not seen a U.S. debut despite strong sales in South Korea and Europe for about a year now. (The Kia spokesperson said the automaker had nothing to announce about that car right now.)
Hyundai Motor Group officials have declined to address how the tariff negotiations between the U.S. and South Korea have impacted its product planning. While the Trump administration’s recent imposition of 15% tariffs on imports from that country is lower than the 25% duty it faced much of this year, it still likely didn’t help the EV4’s case.
The EV4 is the latest of several electric models to see a pause, delay or cancellation in the U.S. market. Many were due to be imported from other countries, or not viable in the marketplace without the tax credits, or simply unlikely to find an audience amid a wider EV slowdown. Examples include the Nissan Ariya, the Volkswagen ID.7, the U.S.-made Mercedes EQ models, and the Acura ZDX.
Contact the author: patrick.george@insideevs.com
