Kia Tests Remote-Controlled PV5 Electric Van Service

Kia has commenced a car-sharing pilot project using the PV5 electric van in South Korea on 15 October 2026, featuring remote driving technology that delivers vehicles to users without an in-cabin driver. The service runs in Pangyo, Gyeonggi Province, and is scheduled to operate until the end of 2026.

According to Kia, this initiative marks the first car-sharing service in South Korea to implement remote driving technology. The deployment allows businesses and commercial mobility users to access electric fleet vehicles on demand, with pricing and Malaysian distributor availability not yet announced in the source material.

Key Facts

How Does the Kia PV5 Remote Driving Service Work?

The Kia PV5 remote driving service operates via an application where users book an electric van that is guided to their location by an external human driver. Unlike autonomous systems, a remote operator steers the van using 4G or 5G wireless networks until the user takes over physical driving.

Once the journey ends, the user parks the electric van at a selected location. The remote operator then resumes control from a separate site to drive the vehicle back to its garage. This eliminates the requirement for customers to travel to a designated depot to pick up or return vehicles. "Remote driving differs from autonomous systems because human operators steer the Kia PV5 electric van from an external location using 4G or 5G wireless connections."

Who Manages the Kia PV5 Remote Driving Consortium?

Kia oversees the pilot project and supplies the PV5 vans, collaborating with SUM, Mobiops, and the Korea Road Traffic Authority. SUM engineered the remote driving software solution, Mobiops directs ongoing fleet operations, and the Korea Road Traffic Authority supervises regulatory reviews during public road testing.

The initiative also receives support from the Gyeonggi provincial government, KT, UMOS ONE, the Next Generation Convergence Technology Research Institute, and the Gyeonggi Automobile Rental Business Association. This follows an April 2026 regulatory sandbox exemption granted by South Korea's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. "Kia supplies the PV5 electric vans and leads the consortium while SUM develops the remote driving technology and Mobiops manages service operations."

Who Is This For in Malaysia?

This commercial mobility development is relevant to fleet managers and commercial vehicle operators evaluating future electric logistics solutions, though local availability remains unannounced. Kia views remote driving car-sharing as a viable method to boost commercial operational efficiency and lower total vehicle ownership overheads.

The source material notes that commercial expansion targets 2027 following pilot testing, but does not state official Malaysian distributorship, local pricing in RM, road tax, or local charging details. "Kia designed the remote-controlled PV5 car-sharing model to help commercial businesses improve operational efficiency and reduce vehicle ownership burdens."

Common Questions

Can users drive the Kia PV5 themselves during the car-sharing booking?

Yes. The remote driver operates the van only to deliver it to the requested location and return it to the garage; users drive the Kia PV5 themselves throughout their reserved period.

Is the Kia PV5 remote driving system an autonomous driving platform?

No. The system uses remote driving, where a human driver controls the van from an external location via 4G or 5G networks, rather than an autonomous system that navigates without human intervention.

When will the Kia PV5 remote driving service expand commercially?

Kia plans to expand the service in 2027 to support commercialisation based on the PV5, following data gathered from the Pangyo pilot programme ending in late 2026.

Sources and Methodology

This report references coverage originally published by Careta under the title "Kia Uji Perkhidmatan PV5 Kawalan Jarak Jauh".

Original report: Careta

Non-English source facts were translated from the original Malay article. No currency conversions were performed as the source text does not list prices. This article is based on the source report above and was last updated on 23 October 2026.