Kia, the sister company of Hyundai Motor Company, is set to enter Japan's purpose-built vehicle market, which is currently dominated by Japanese competitors. Teaming up with Japan-based trading company Sojitz, Kia plans to introduce its first PBV model, the PV5 van, in Japan by 2026. The launch of the PV5 in Japan aligns with the country's push towards achieving net-zero goals, with Japan offering substantial incentives to promote electric vehicles and aiming for EVs to represent 30 percent of total car sales by 2030. To appeal to Japanese consumers, Kia has equipped the PV5 with features tailored to the local market, such as the CHAdeMO fast-charging system and a vehicle-to-everything (V2X) connectivity system. Additionally, Kia intends to introduce the larger PV7 model in Japan in the near future. The company emphasizes the quality control measures at its EVO Plant in Gyeonggi Province, which will utilize automated systems for rigorous inspections and plans to have an annual production capacity of 150,000 units, starting mass production next year. Despite facing challenges in a market dominated by domestic brands like Toyota, Honda, and Nissan, Kia sees an opportunity in the EV van sector due to the focus of Japanese automakers on hybrid cars rather than fully electric models.