- At the New York auto show, Kia showed a PV5 electric van outfitted in NYC taxi livery.
- This concept is a collaboration with BraunAbility, which modifies vehicles for wheelchair accessibility.
- We wonder if this is another hint that the PV5, currently available globally, will come to America, since we recently spotted a prototype of this van in Michigan.
The Kia PV5 could not only be the first electric wheelchair-accessible van on the market, but also a brand-new entry into the New York taxi pool, if this concept shown at the 2026 New York auto show is any indication. This collaboration between Kia and BraunAbility, a company that modifies vehicles for accessibility, suggests that the PV5 could be used for fleets in the United States sooner rather than later. The two companies say that this vehicle will be going out for real-world testing and describe it as a “production-ready concept.”
The PV5 is already on sale globally, but we had an inkling that it might be heading to U.S. shores when we first spotted one in Michigan. This lends further credence to that possibility, as this taxi-fied PV5 has the same U.S.-spec market lights.
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BraunAbility says this is the first EV it has modified for wheelchair service. The PV5 in question has a wheelchair ramp that folds out from the rear of the vehicle. Otherwise, the interior features a two-row, five-passenger layout with a second-row bench seat. The tall roof makes for a spacious cabin, and the blue-and-white upholstery makes for a nattier look than you might expect from a taxi. Of course, all of these details could change for a potential production version, as we’re sure that durability would be of the utmost concern.
The NYC Taxi and Limousine Commission hasn’t made any official announcements in regard to the PV5, but newly appointed TLC commissioner and chair Midori Valdivia has stated accessibility as a priority for the department. Kia also said this concept could be used in other cities across the country, so it may not be limited to New York. Stay tuned for more news on this cool-looking van and its potential applications in the U.S. as we learn more about Kia’s plans for this model.
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Despite being raised on a steady diet of base-model Hondas and Toyotas—or perhaps because of it—Joey Capparella cultivated an obsession for the automotive industry throughout his childhood in Nashville, Tennessee. He found a way to write about cars for the school newspaper during his college years at Rice University, which eventually led him to move to Ann Arbor, Michigan, for his first professional auto-writing gig at Automobile Magazine. He has been part of the Hearst Autos team since 2016 and now lives in New York City.
