Tag Archives: EVs

News

Kia’s Electrified Momentum Carries Record Sales—But Tariffs Dent Profits

Kia just posted its highest-ever third-quarter revenue and sales volume, driven by surging demand for hybrids and a growing lineup of EVs. But even as the Korean automaker’s electrified strategy continues to pay dividends, profitability took a hit thanks to trade headwinds and aggressive incentives—especially in the United States.

Record Revenue, Record Sales

In Q3 2025, Kia raked in ₩28.69 trillion (roughly $21 billion) in revenue, an 8.2 percent jump year over year. That figure marks the company’s strongest third-quarter performance ever, fueled by global appetite for electrified models and a higher average selling price across its lineup.

Kia moved 785,137 vehicles globally between July and September, up 2.8 percent from a year earlier. The brand’s hybrid lineup remains its strongest growth engine, while EVs continue to gain traction—particularly in North America and Korea.

Profit Takes a Tariff Hit

The bright sales figures couldn’t mask the sting from new U.S. tariffs and incentive spending. Operating profit slid 49.2 percent to ₩1.46 trillion, dropping the operating margin to 5.1 percent. Net profit fell 37.3 percent year over year, landing at ₩1.42 trillion.

The silver lining: solid hybrid performance in the U.S. and steady domestic demand in Korea helped cushion the blow. “Hybrid is our anchor in volatile markets,” a Kia executive reportedly told investors.

Regional Highlights

Kia’s home market remains a stronghold, with Korean sales climbing 10.2 percent to 138,009 units, powered by robust demand for recreational vehicles (RVs) and new EV offerings.

Overseas, Kia delivered 647,128 vehicles, up modestly at 1.4 percent, but with standout growth in North America (+2.3 percent), Asia-Pacific, and Central and South America.

Europe proved a mixed bag: while the new EV3 is finding buyers, total volume slipped as Kia phased out several models and paused production at its Slovakia plant to prepare for the next wave of EVs. In India, sales slowed ahead of a government Goods and Services Tax (GST) adjustment, though Kia expects a rebound in Q4 following the rollout of the redesigned Seltos SUV.

Electrified Surge

Kia’s electrified portfolio continues to expand rapidly. The brand sold 204,000 hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and battery-electric vehicles (xEVs) in Q3—a 32.3 percent leap year over year. Electrified models now make up 26.4 percent of Kia’s total global sales, up from 21 percent in 2024.

Hybrids led the charge with 118,000 units sold (+40.9%), buoyed by models like the Sportage and Sorento HEVs. Battery-electric vehicles climbed 30 percent to 70,000 units, while plug-in hybrids dipped slightly to 17,000 units, down 2.6 percent.

The Road Ahead

Looking forward, Kia says it’s bracing for more global trade turbulence but remains confident in its electrified roadmap. The company plans to expand its hybrid lineup and accelerate EV launches, with a full stable of electric models slated to arrive by 2027.

In Korea, Kia will build on RV and hybrid momentum and enter new territory with its first pickup truck, the Tasman. The EV5 and PV5 are next on deck, joining the brand’s growing all-electric family.

In the U.S., Kia aims to balance hybrid flexibility with EV expansion, leveraging its adaptive manufacturing systems to respond quickly to policy shifts. Europe will see fresh arrivals including the EV4, EV5, and PV5, while India’s lineup will grow around the Syros and a next-gen Seltos.

Kia’s Q3 numbers tell a clear story: electrification is working. The brand is selling more hybrids and EVs than ever before, commanding higher prices and stronger market share. But as tariffs tighten margins and incentives eat into profits, Kia faces the same challenge every automaker does in the EV transition—finding a balance between volume, value, and volatility.

Source: KIA

News

The ‘E-Mazda’ Team Prepares a True Driver’s EV for 2027

Mazda has never rushed to follow the crowd. While most of the automotive world has been racing to electrify lineups and chase range numbers, Hiroshima’s favorite underdog has stayed busy doing what it does best—refining the art of the drive. But now, the company is stepping firmly into the EV era. The first bespoke Mazda electric vehicle is officially in development, with prototypes already running and a launch slated for 2027.

For a brand that built its identity around lightweight sports cars and soulful combustion engines, this marks a historic shift. Until now, Mazda’s EV experiments have been built on borrowed bones. The MX-30, its first electric crossover, shared its structure with the CX-30. And the upcoming EZ-60 SUV and 6e sedan will rely on underpinnings from Mazda’s Chinese joint venture with Dongfeng. But this new platform—developed completely in-house—signals a clean break from that past.

Chief Technology Officer Ryuichi Umeshita confirmed the move represents Mazda’s next phase of electrification. “We’ve established our own electrification development team, which we call E-Mazda, and that team has been doing a great job,” he told Autocar. “I’ve driven a prototype already—it’s a real jinba ittai car.” That Japanese term, meaning “horse and rider as one,” has long been the company’s guiding principle for driver engagement. The message is clear: this EV won’t just be efficient—it will feel like a Mazda.

Umeshita admits Mazda is “behind rivals” in launching a dedicated EV platform, but he’s quick to frame that as deliberate rather than negligent. The MX-30 program, he says, gave Mazda’s engineers valuable experience in electric powertrains and packaging. “We have a lot of good, experienced engineers already,” he noted. “I don’t think we’re behind the market because of that.”

As for what form the first ground-up Mazda EV will take, that’s still undecided. It could be a volume-selling crossover to meet tightening global regulations, or something more niche—perhaps a driver-focused model to make a statement. “It depends on the market and the regulations,” Umeshita explained. “If the regulation requires a higher EV mix, it must be a volume car. If the regulation is eased, we can ease the volume restraints.”

Behind the scenes, Mazda is overhauling its entire development process. The company’s so-called “lean asset strategy” uses advanced simulation tools, AI-assisted engineering, and strategic supplier partnerships to cut costs and lead times dramatically. Mazda claims this approach allows its teams to complete three times as much development work with the same resources—a vital advantage for an independent automaker competing in an industry dominated by global giants.

Still, for Mazda, it’s not just about efficiency—it’s about emotion. If Umeshita’s early drive impressions are any indication, the brand’s first bespoke EV might just prove that even in a silent, battery-powered future, Mazda can still make a car that feels alive.

Source: Mazda

News

Toyota’s Solid-State Revolution: The Future of Performance EVs Is Closer Than You Think

By 2028, Toyota might just rewrite the rules of electric performance. The Japanese automaker has confirmed that its long-awaited solid-state battery (SSB) technology will finally reach production—and the first car to wear this next-generation power source will be a high-performance EV.

For years, solid-state batteries have been the holy grail of electric mobility: smaller, lighter, and vastly more energy-dense than the lithium-ion packs powering today’s EVs. They promise dramatically longer range, faster charging, and less degradation over time—all while reducing the environmental toll of production and disposal.

Toyota’s been chasing this breakthrough for nearly a decade. Now, according to Keiji Kaita, president of Toyota’s Carbon Neutral Engineering Development Centre, the company is “sticking on schedule” to put the first SSB-equipped model into production by 2027 or 2028.

“For the all-solid-state battery, the characteristic is high power, compact and long range,” Kaita said at the Tokyo motor show. “The cars will leverage these attributes.”

Why Solid-State Matters

Unlike traditional lithium-ion batteries that rely on liquid electrolytes, solid-state packs use a solid ceramic material to transfer ions between the electrodes. The payoff? More power and range in a smaller footprint, with the added benefits of improved safety and longevity.

Toyota claims its prototype SSB can triple driving range, double power output, and last four times longer than current EV batteries. The company has already tested packs capable of delivering up to 745 miles on a single charge—numbers that could make even today’s most efficient EVs seem obsolete overnight.

But range is only part of the story. The compact dimensions of SSBs allow engineers to rethink vehicle proportions entirely. With thinner floor-mounted packs, designers can lower rooflines and seating positions, reclaim interior space, and craft sleeker silhouettes that were once the sole domain of supercars.

A Supercar Launchpad

That’s why the first Toyota SSB model won’t be a commuter crossover—it’ll be a halo performance machine. All signs point to the upcoming Lexus electric supercar, a spiritual successor to the LFA, as the technology’s debut platform.

With an ultra-low stance and lightweight structure, the Lexus EV will reportedly serve as a battery-powered sibling to the V8-engined Toyota GR supercar that’s also in the works. If the rumors hold true, we could be looking at a dual-pronged attack from Toyota: one celebrating combustion’s last stand, and the other ushering in a new era of electric performance.

When pressed for details, Kaita played coy. “Whether it will be a Lexus or Toyota, we will leave that to your imagination,” he teased.

Greener, Longer, Smarter

The benefits of solid-state go beyond speed and range. According to Toyota, the technology could cut the total carbon footprint of an EV battery by up to 75%—thanks to longer lifespans and cleaner production processes.

“We will try to reduce the carbon footprint, and the key here is reducing the CO₂ output in manufacturing the material,” said Kaita. “But the most important thing is producing a battery whose life is longer.”

A longer-lasting pack not only means fewer replacements, but also less waste—a major step toward Toyota’s broader goal of carbon neutrality across the product life cycle.

The Road Ahead

Toyota’s chief technology officer, Hiroki Nakajima, confirmed that solid-state batteries could, in theory, slot into the company’s existing EV platforms—offering the same range in half the space. However, he hinted that SSBs will shine brightest in new, dedicated architectures designed to fully exploit their advantages.

Meanwhile, for more mainstream models, Toyota is developing a next-gen lithium-ion battery with a lower height and innovative packaging. This version, showcased in the sleek Corolla EV concept, helps lower the center of gravity while freeing up interior volume—proof that efficiency and style don’t have to be mutually exclusive.

Toyota’s patient, methodical approach to solid-state batteries might finally pay off. If the company can deliver on its promise—a high-performance EV with 700+ miles of range, supercar agility, and long-term sustainability—it won’t just be catching up to Tesla or Porsche. It’ll be redefining what an electric vehicle can be.

And if the first car to carry that technology happens to wear a Lexus badge, we may be witnessing not just a new battery, but the rebirth of Japan’s most iconic supercar spirit—this time, powered by electrons.

Source: Toyota