Kia Holds 2025 Global PBV Conversion Partners Day

by Woo Sooyoun

Published 30 Nov.2025 09:40(KST)

Kia has created an opportunity to expand collaboration with domestic and international corporate clients participating in the development of purpose-built vehicle (PBV) specialized models.

Kia announced on November 30 that it held the '2025 Global PBV Conversion Partners Day' from November 25 to 27.

The event took place in the Seoul and Gyeonggi regions, bringing together approximately 120 participants, including representatives from specialized vehicle manufacturers in Korea, Europe, Japan, Africa, the Middle East, and Canada, as well as Kia executives and employees.

PBV conversion refers to developing and producing specialized models tailored to customers' purposes and uses by utilizing PBVs as a platform. Kia planned this event to expand its 'PBV Conversion Partnership' with global specialized vehicle manufacturers and to promote mutual growth.

The PBV Conversion Partnership is a cooperative system in which Kia provides vehicle production and certification information and technical support, enabling specialized vehicle manufacturers to produce a variety of specialized models with complete vehicle-level quality. After going through a set procedure, these manufacturers are selected as official partners.

Currently, Kia has selected 10 domestic specialized vehicle manufacturers as PBV conversion partners. The company also plans to further vitalize the PBV ecosystem by selecting additional partners in other regions, including about 10 European specialized vehicle manufacturers.

At the "2025 Global PBV Conversion Partners Day," Vice President Sangdae Kim of Kia's PBV Business Division (third from the left in the first row) and representatives from global specialized vehicle manufacturers pose for a commemorative photo. Provided by Kia

During the event, Kia explained its PBV business strategy, the conversion partnership system, and operational direction to participating companies. The company also organized a tour of the Autoland Hwaseong Evo Plant, a factory dedicated to PBVs.

In addition, at Kia's first PBV-specialized hub, the 'PBV Experience Center,' the company exhibited the mass-production PV5 model, a chassis cab consisting only of the vehicle's frame and passenger compartment (cab), and donor models with unnecessary parts such as seats and interior trim pre-removed. Test drives were also conducted.

The event also featured a signing ceremony with domestic companies officially selected as PBV conversion partners.

A Kia representative stated, "We will continue to strengthen collaboration with domestic and international specialized vehicle manufacturers by holding the Global PBV Conversion Partners Day as an annual regular event, thereby providing vehicles and services optimized for the business environments of global customers."

On November 14, Kia held the completion ceremony for the Evo Plant East, a PBV production hub with an annual capacity of 250,000 units, and the groundbreaking ceremony for the Evo Plant West at Autoland Hwaseong. In the vicinity, Kia also operates the 'PBV Conversion Center,' where it collaborates with domestic and international specialized vehicle manufacturers to develop various specialized models.