Here’s your first look at the PV5, Kia’s production-ready electric van

Shuttles at the ready: Kia’s revealed the first pics of the production-ready PV5, its all-electric people- or cargo-carrying van.

The mid-sized PV5 will be available in three different body styles, and ‘several’ internal configurations, though the two main styles are Passenger and Cargo.

Both offer clean lines and simplistic front ends. Indeed in an effort to maximise internal space and headroom, there’s much boxiness – though if you look closely, the Passenger version does have a slightly softer nose than the sharper-faced Cargo. What's that saying: 'it's hip to be square'?

Anyway, the Passenger variant also has plenty of glass (blacked out in the back for privacy), a rear-seat sliding door on one side, lift-up tailgate door and a more joyful choice of body colours if the metallic light blue is anything to go by.

It contrasts starkly with the we-mean-bidness grey version that is the PV5 Cargo. That conveniently sports sliding side doors on both sides and two doors at the back for easier loading/unloading efforts.

Kia also has plans for derivative models and specialist conversions it’ll talk about more next week at its 'Kia EV Day' – yes, actually A Thing.

The PV5 will take on the VW ID.Buzz and the Maxus eDeliver 3, 5 and Deliver 7 – not to mention any one MPV or van from the Stellantis tribe.

Let’s not forget, though the Cargo variant is Kia’s first foray into the electric commercial van world, the Korean carmaker is pretty au fait with the world of people-carrying, via the Carens (aka Rondo), Sedona and Carnival. Whether its world domination plans will come to pass will depend, of course, on that all-important price tag. Hold tight for another week.