Kia Motors Announces Plans for First All-Electric Vehicle in U.S.

Auto manufacturer Kia Motors America (KMA) recently unveiled plans to offer an all-electric option of its Soul urban passenger vehicle to select markets in 2014.

The announcement, made at a recent media launch for the 2014 Soul, did not include information on sticker prices, range, or drivetrain options. The company plans to reveal details on the Soul EV’s powertrain, range/MPGe, packaging and go-to-market strategy at an upcoming major U.S. auto show.

“Eco-consciousness already comes standard on the all-new Soul with 85 percent of its materials able to be recycled at the end of its lifespan, and the Soul EV will further demonstrate Kia’s engineering capabilities as well as our commitment to producing vehicles with reduced environmental footprints,” said Orth Hedrick, executive director of product planning at KMA.