Eco-friendly police vehicle vision unveiled at Incheon's Songdo Convensia
Kia backs Korean National Police Agency's electrification push
'Will keep developing tailored vehicle solutions for public-sector customers'
Kia announced Wednesday that it is participating in the 2026 Korea Police Expo (KPEX 2026), a four-day event running through Saturday at Songdo Convensia in Incheon.
The expo is co-hosted by the Korean National Police Agency and Incheon city, and co-organized by the Incheon Tourism Organization, Messe eSang and KOTRA. This year's edition runs under the theme "A New Era of K-Security Through AI and Robotics," showcasing the latest public-safety equipment and products powered by advanced technology.
Kia is exhibiting two concept vehicles at the event — a PV5 patrol car and an EV5 patrol car — both optimized for police operations.
The PV5 patrol car concept is designed to maximize space efficiency, making it well-suited for transporting multiple personnel and operating police equipment.
It features a low floor and sliding doors to improve ease of entry and exit as well as on-site mobility, while its spacious interior allows officers to load and operate the various equipment needed for patrol and public-safety duties.
The EV5 patrol car concept offers a class-leading cabin and 965 liters of luggage space (SAE standard; 566 liters by VDA standard), giving it the versatility required for police work. A luggage board enhances storage convenience and allows security gear and supplies to be loaded efficiently.
Through the two concept vehicles, Kia aims to present its vision for eco-friendly police cars based on electric vehicle and purpose-built vehicle (PBV) platforms, and plans to continue expanding mobility solutions tailored to law enforcement needs.
In the first half of this year, Kia collaborated with the Korean National Police Agency to develop an AI patrol car and has been running training programs to support the safe operation of electric vehicles.
The AI patrol car was built on the PV5 Passenger five-seater and is designed to detect hazards early and support patrol operations linking ground and aerial assets.
The vehicle is equipped with three 4K AI cameras and a drone station on its roof, along with monitors inside the cabin and at the rear to strengthen on-scene response capabilities.
The AI patrol car has been in operation with the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's wide-area preventive patrol unit since July, and a decision on further deployment will be made based on the results of that pilot.
In addition, through its partnership with the Korean National Police Agency, Kia conducted training sessions from June through August for vehicle managers at police agencies in Seoul, Busan and South Gyeongsang Province, covering electric vehicle fundamentals — including EV structure and battery management — and safe vehicle operation.
Kia plans to continue expanding its training cooperation with the agency in line with the Korean National Police Agency's electrification policy, with the aim of deepening EV knowledge and promoting safe vehicle operation.
"At KPEX 2026, we want to introduce the competitiveness of Kia's electrified mobility and its potential as a police patrol vehicle," a Kia official said. "We will continue developing customized vehicle solutions that meet the diverse needs of police and public-sector customers, drawing on our broad EV and PBV lineup."
Meanwhile, Kia and Hyundai Motor Company on Wednesday launched a vehicle app development competition open to university and graduate students, general developers and startups, and began recruiting participants — part of the companies' broader efforts to offer customers a richer mobility experience.
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