Kia will postpone the U.S. launch of its 2026 EV4 ‘until further notice,’ a company spokesperson confirmed to InsideEVs.
Kia had positioned the EV4 Fastback as a rival to the Tesla Model 3 in the U.S. market. However, the company has now decided to delay its launch indefinitely, citing sharply worsening market conditions under the Trump administration.
“However, as market conditions for EVs have changed, the release of the upcoming EV4 electric sedan will be delayed until further notice,” the spokesperson stated.
Kia unveiled the EV4 in February at the 2025 New York Auto Show, with plans to launch it in the first half of 2026 in the U.S. However, the model now appears to have a more limited global rollout than initially anticipated, especially after its recent removal from Kia’s U.S. website.
The compact electric sedan, built on Hyundai Motor’s E-GMP platform, was engineered to deliver solid range and advanced tech at an attainable price of around $30,000. It was set to join Kia’s lineup alongside the EV3, serving as one of the brand’s more budget-friendly EV options under the larger EV6 and EV9.
The EV3 is currently on sale in South Korea, Europe, and several other markets but has yet to reach the U.S. Kia has not provided a specific reason for the delay, though the expiration of federal EV tax credits and increased tariffs on South Korean imports likely influenced the decision.
Similarly, the boxy Kia EV3 crossover has also not been introduced to the U.S. market, despite achieving strong sales in South Korea and Europe over the past year.
Kia’s move highlights the increasing uncertainty in the electric vehicle market. The EV4 joins a string of EV models experiencing delays in the U.S., as manufacturers grapple with shifting regulations, rising cost pressures, and declining consumer interest.
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