Kia is preparing for the anticipated success of its EV3 in North America by ramping up production at its Mexican factory, surpassing output levels in South Korea. The affordable subcompact electric crossover, the Kia EV3, has recently been spotted undergoing testing in the United States, sporting California license plates and a black-and-white camouflage wrap.
Though the vehicle remains camouflaged, much of its design has already been revealed. The four-door EV, which is already available in Kia’s home market of South Korea, is expected to be priced between $30,000 and $35,000 when it officially reaches U.S. dealerships early next year. With the possibility of benefiting from the $7,500 federal tax credit, the EV3 could become a sub-$30,000 electric vehicle, offering an attractive package of design and technology for its price segment.
In international markets, the EV3 is available with two battery options: a 58.3 kWh pack or a larger 81.4 kWh unit, which is expected to deliver approximately 300 miles of EPA-estimated range on a full charge. The camouflaged unit spotted in the U.S. appears to be an entry-level version, featuring three-module LED headlights and vertically aligned taillights. Higher trims, available in South Korea, come equipped with 12-module lights and rear lights that extend horizontally onto the hatch.
Built on Hyundai Motor Group’s E-GMP platform, which also underpins the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV9, the EV3 is powered by a front-mounted electric motor producing 150 kW (202 horsepower). This setup allows the vehicle to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in approximately 7.5 seconds. An all-wheel-drive version is reportedly in the works, though its release date remains unknown.
Unlike its larger counterparts, the EV3 features a 400V battery system, with a peak DC charging rate of 128 kW. Kia claims that charging from 10% to 80% can be achieved in under 18 minutes, suggesting an impressive charging curve. Additionally, the EV3 offers advanced features such as I-Pedal 3.0, which includes multiple levels of regenerative braking and one-pedal driving. The vehicle also boasts underbody protection for enhanced aerodynamics, a compact HVAC unit 33% smaller than that in the Niro EV, dual dashboard screens, and vehicle-to-load (V2L) functionality as standard.
In South Korea, the EV3 has already proven to be a hit, garnering over 10,000 reservations within its first month of availability. This success led Jong Wook Jeong, Kia’s head of domestic business, to label it a “game-changer.”
As for North American production, reports suggest that Kia plans to build the EV3 at its Monterrey facility in Mexico. While the company has not officially confirmed this, sources indicate a production target of 110,000 units per year at the Mexican plant—10,000 more than the output at Kia’s Gwangmyeong factory in South Korea, which supplies the local market, Europe, and other regions. If this production shift is confirmed, it could make the EV3 eligible for the $7,500 federal tax credit, positioning it as one of the most affordable new electric vehicles in the U.S. market.