Kia and Motability Operations have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to jointly develop electric wheelchair accessible vehicles (WAVs). This pact marks a major step toward inclusive and sustainable mobility.
The Kia PV5 and locally converted WAV variants will be introduced in the UK under the Motability Scheme in the first half of 2026, with a factory-built PV5 WAV expected to follow later that year.
The vehicle will be based on Kia’s Platform Beyond Vehicle (PBV) architecture, with Motability Operations providing key insights into the UK WAV market to ensure customer needs are integrated from the design stage.
The PV5 WAV will feature a side-entry configuration and a wheelchair ramp rated for 300 kilograms, enabling easier accessibility for users. Production will take place at Kia’s Hwaseong EVO Plant in Korea.
Ho Sung Song, President of Kia, said the collaboration reflects the company’s vision as a “Sustainable Mobility Solutions Provider,” emphasizing that the PV5 WAV embodies Kia’s goal of ensuring “Mobility for All” as a sustainable and fundamental human right.
Motability Operations Chief Executive Andrew Miller said the partnership represents the realization of the eVITA concept, moving from vision to reality through the creation of factory and conversion eWAVs designed with accessibility at their core.
The collaboration will also explore smart charging infrastructure and bidirectional energy technologies, including vehicle-to-home (V2H) and vehicle-to-grid (V2G) systems.
Kia’s upcoming PV5 WAV will be the first factory-built electric wheelchair accessible vehicle to enter the market, highlighting a significant milestone in the transition toward inclusive electric mobility.
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