Kia’s electric van really can do it all. The PV5 was converted into a mobile grocery store to deliver food and other necessities to those in need for free.
Kia PV5 becomes a grocery store on wheels
The PV5 is about the closest thing to a real-life transformer. Kia’s electric van comes in a variety of top hats customized for business and personal use.
Beyond the standard Passenger, Cargo, and Chassis Cab body styles, Kia has introduced several unique conversion models, including a refrigerated van, mobile gaming rig, AI patrol vehicle, and even a light camper.
Most recently, Kia converted the PV5 into a mobile grocery store to deliver food in rural parts of Korea, where fresh food and groceries are scarce.
As part of its new “Move to You” initiative, Kia used its electric van to provide free food delivery and connect residents with care services.
The project started in Uiseong-gun, South Korea, where the population is rapidly aging and access to fresh food is becoming more difficult. Although the region is roughly twice the size of Seoul, its population is only about 47,000.
To make matters worse, over 50% of residents are projected to be over the age of 65, meaning one out of every two who live there is considered elderly.
The rapid population decline has caused local shops, hospitals, schools, and infrastructure to disappear. Residents now have to travel hours just to get a carton of eggs.
Kia converted the PV5 into a mobile grocery store to deliver fresh food and other convenience items to those in need. Based on the PV5 Cargo, Kia modified the electric van with flexible racks and a portable refrigerator.
The setup enables Kia to deliver groceries and other daily necessities to the homes of the elderly in the region every week.
Kia’s electric van can conquer the winding, narrow farm roads of the mountainous region, where access was previously limited.
Currently, Kia has eight PV5 mobile grocery stores in operation or being prepared for deployment, delivering food to about 70 villages every week. Residents come together to catch up and help each other find necessary items.
Park Hyang-sook, one of the local residents who uses the program, said it’s especially helpful because “Many elderly people find it difficult to place phone orders,” adding that “Move to You is convenient because a car comes right to the front of the community center on designated days.”
Kia is also partnering with public health centers and various welfare programs to establish an integrated care system that will go beyond food delivery to include health exams and more.
While Kia plans to continue expanding the service, it’s also considering using the larger PV7 electric van (set to debut this month), which will offer more space once it’s launched.
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