Kia & Motability Operations to cooperate on wheel-chair accessible EVs

Kia and Motability Operations, which runs the Motability Scheme in the UK, have signed an MoU to bring an affordable, fully electric, side-entry Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle to market in the UK. Their first model will be introduced in late 2026.

Motability operations kia wav uk agreement — Image: Kia

Under the agreement, the companies plan to design inclusive mobility through Kia’s Platform Beyond Vehicle (PBV) lineup in order to help meet accessibility and electrification needs of everyone.

According to Kia’s communication on the matter, the WAV will be designed, built and sold by the South Korean company, based on its proprietary PBV architecture. In turn, Motability Operations will then support the development process by providing customer insights into the UK WAV market.

Kia’s first PBV model, the PV5, is currently slated to be introduced as a passenger vehicle in the UK under the Motability Scheme, with a locally converted WAV variant to follow in the first half of 2026. A PV5 WAV variant is also expected to enter the market in late 2026.

In addition to the vehicle development, Kia and Motability Operations are also planning to explore charging infrastructure, with a particular focus on smart charging solutions, which allow automatic charging when tariffs are lowest, thus helping reduce costs for drivers. Technologies such as Vehicle-to-Home (V2H) and Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) will also be considered “to further reduce the total cost of ownership and support the wider sustainability transition.”

“There is no better demonstration of the commitment towards Kia’s vision of ‘Sustainable Mobility Solutions Provider’ than the innovative independence that the PV5 WAV offers to those facing mobility challenges,” said President Ho Sung Song. “The signing of this MOU with Motability Operations reinforces our commitment to leading a future where ‘Mobility for All’ is both sustainable and a basic human right.”

“By sharing our customer and WAV market insight with Kia’s design teams, we’re taking the next step toward creating a purpose-built electric WAV. This collaboration supports our long-term goals and helps us take the next step in creating a purpose-built electric WAV to protect disabled people’s mobility through the EV transition,” added Andrew Miller, CEO of Motability Operations.

kianewscenter.com