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Kia Picanto Faces UK Sunset Amid EV Shift
18 May
Summary
- Kia Picanto may be discontinued before 2030 due to EV targets.
- Current petrol model cannot meet strict Zero Emission Vehicle mandate rules.
- Kia may prioritize larger models over the small Picanto.
The beloved Kia Picanto supermini is facing potential discontinuation in UK showrooms before 2030. Kia UK leadership has indicated that the current petrol-powered model cannot comply with the UK's escalating Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate. Under these regulations, a progressively higher percentage of new car sales must be fully electric each year.
Kia has no immediate plans to introduce hybrid technology to the compact 1.0-litre Picanto. This means the car could be withdrawn from sale by the end of 2029. The ZEV mandate requires 33% of new car sales to be electric by 2026, rising to 80% by 2030. This situation may compel Kia to focus on its best-selling vehicles, such as the Sportage SUV, potentially at the expense of smaller, budget-friendly models.
