Kia has officially launched its first vehicle to be assembled in Singapore — the EV5 electric SUV. The car will be produced at the Hyundai Motor Group Innovation Centre Singapore (HMGICS) located in Jurong. Originally announced during the Singapore Motor Show in January, the EV5 was officially revealed at a special launch event held at HMGICS on May 28.

Although this is Kia's first model to be built in Singapore, HMGICS has already been assembling Hyundai’s Ioniq 5 and Ioniq 6 since  The EV5 is a compact electric SUV, slightly smaller than Hyundai’s Ioniq 5. Local distributor Cycle & Carriage will retail the EV5 in three different trims — Air, Earth, and GT-Line. Local production allows Kia to customize the EV5 for Singapore's market. The Air and Earth variants are equipped with 134hp electric motors, making them eligible for the Category A Certificate of Entitlement (COE). These two versions are exclusive to Singapore and will not be available in other countries.

The Air version features a 64.2kWh battery with a 400km range and can be charged from 10% to 80% in 36 minutes using a 102kW DC fast charger. The Earth variant has a larger 88.1kWh battery, offering an extended range of 540km and a slightly longer charge time of 38 minutes with a 141kW DC charger. Topping the range is the GT-Line, which boasts dual electric motors, all-wheel drive, and a combined output of 308hp and 480Nm of torque. This model falls under Category B COE and uses the same 88.1kWh battery as the Earth trim. However, due to the dual-motor setup, its range drops slightly to 470km.

The EV5 comes with a range of high-end, functional features. Among them is a heated and cooled drawer under the rear centre console — standard on the Earth and GT-Line trims — that can keep food and beverages warm or chilled on the go. Other highlights include a fingerprint sensor for easy access to personalized settings such as seat position and infotainment preferences, and an upgraded remote smart parking assist system that lets drivers park the car using the key fob while standing outside. As of May 2025, the Kia EV5 Air starts at $194,000 (inclusive of COE), the Earth variant is priced at $210,600, and the GT-Line version is available for $260,000.