Kia discontinues the e-Niro and focuses on new EVs: what comes next for the brand

Kia ends the e-Niro after seven years, redirecting resources to new EVs. Learn about the model's numbers and what changes in the electric lineup.

The electric vehicle market continues to undergo important adjustments, and another brand announces a strategic shift. Kia confirmed the discontinuation of the e-Niro, the battery-powered crossover that has been in the lineup for seven years, ending production without an announced direct replacement.

The end of the e-Niro: data that is now in the past

The e-Niro was first presented in 2018 at the Paris Motor Show as Kia's second mass-production EV, following the Soul EV. After receiving redesigns in 2022 and an update in 2023, the model was powered by a single motor, delivering 201 horsepower and 395 Nm of torque, with a 64 kWh battery.

The announced range reached about 253 miles (approximately 407 km) on a single charge, subject to variations depending on driving style. In the US, the Niro EV had a starting price of $39,600.

What changes in Kia's EV lineup

With the end of the e-Niro, Kia indicates there will be no direct replacement for the model. The brand states that, from now on, it will only keep the Niro in its hybrid version, while maintaining a wide line of pure electric vehicles. In practice, Kia already operates with the EV6 and the EV9 in the US, and the EV3, EV4, and EV5 in European and other territories. Furthermore, Kia's product portfolio includes a multi-energy line with ICE, mild hybrid, hybrid, and plug-in hybrid.

Industry Context: Honda, Ford, and Ram are also revising their portfolios

It's not just Kia adjusting its portfolio. Honda announced the departure of two electric models already in production phases, the Honda 0 Saloon and the 0 SUV, in addition to the Acura RSX and, later, the ZDX, seeking to realign the brand's electric plan. Ford, in turn, announced the cessation of production of the F-150 Lightning this summer, after only three years on the market. Ram also abandoned the idea of an electric pickup to concentrate efforts on combustion engines.

Amid this rearrangement, the EV sector faces a moment of reassessing costs, demand, and strategy for each manufacturer, which seeks to balance innovation with economic viability.

Final Reflection

What is your reading of this repositioning by Kia and other manufacturers? Do you bet on which new electric models might keep the brand at the forefront, or do you prefer to follow only the projects with a greater history of success in your market?