Kia is retiring the Soul EV following a decade of sales in the UK, making way for its new wave of electric cars.

The Soul EV opened UK sales on 11 November 2014

The brand’s first globally sold electric car, the Soul EV opened UK sales on 11 November 2014. Its arrival made Kia one of only a handful of carmakers with a mainstream EV that offered more than 100 miles range on a single charge.

Part of the second-generation Soul line-up, the first electric version of the crossover SUV combined the same practical and rugged styling as its petrol- and diesel-powered equivalent, but now with technology that kickstarted Kia’s EV intentions.

The first iteration came with a 110hp front-wheel drive powertrain and a 27kWh battery that delivered a range of up to 132 miles; class-leading at the time.

The car was imported in limited quantities as Kia found its feet in the market, with only 13 specially trained UK dealers offering the car. This figure grew to 19 dealers in January 2015.

From small beginnings, Kia UK had delivered almost 1,000 Soul EV units by 2018 as EV sales began to gain traction.

The revised Soul EV went on sale in 2019 with a more powerful drivetrain and a larger battery pack boosting its range up to 280 miles; both key drivers for an increase in Soul EV sales.

In the same year, the e-Niro officially went on sale in the UK. As with the Soul EV, the e-Niro was based on the same platform as a pre-existing ICE powered model, and proved an instant hit.

The Kia EV3, EV6 and EV9

Followed since by the EV6, EV9 and EV3, the Soul EV now passes the baton – for affordable, practical electrification – to the EV3, as Kia looks to continue its momentum into the next decade of EV sales.

By the end of 2026, Kia is targeting one million EV sales worldwide, increasing to 1.6 million by the end of 2030, and aims to have a global line-up of 15 EVs by 2027, including both passenger cars and its fully electric vans; known internally as Platform Beyond Vehicle (PBVs).

Latest figures also show that almost 50% of all Kia UK’s sales this year have been EV, full hybrid or plug-in hybrid.

The carmaker also currently ranks as the fourth most popular brand in the UK year-to-date and says EVs have played an increasingly important role in its rise up the ranks.

Paul Philpott, president and CEO at Kia UK, said: “To mark a decade of EV sales in the UK is an achievement we’re proud of, and a landmark which very few other brands can celebrate just yet. Over the past 10 years, we haven’t only grown our EV model line-up significantly, but also demonstrated our dedication to innovation, quality and customer satisfaction.”

He added: “Looking forward to the next decade of our EVs, we are in good stead. We have a clear strategy to maintain our position as a global leader in electrification with a wider variety of EVs on the way to match a range of customer needs and desires. This is backed by a dedicated, well-informed dealer network to support UK buyers, particularly those taking their first steps into the world of electric motoring.”