Takeaways
- The EV2 is built at Kia’s Žilina plant in Slovakia, making it exempt from EU countervailing duties that apply to Chinese imports. It offers up to 453 km WLTP range and 30‑minute 10‑80% fast charging.
- At €26,600, the base EV2 undercuts the €30,000 price analysts expected, demonstrating that a European-built affordable EV can compete directly with Chinese imports without subsidy support.
According to Kia, the EV2 is now available to order in Germany at a starting price of €26,600, approximately €3,400 below pre-launch analyst expectations. The vehicle is built at Kia‘s Žilina plant in Slovakia, making it exempt from EU countervailing duties.
Deliveries begin in April 2026. The base Light trim comes with a 42.2 kWh LFP battery delivering 317 km WLTP range. A 61 kWh long-range variant arrives later in 2026 with up to 453 km WLTP range. DC fast charging at up to 118 kW replenishes the battery from 10% to 80% in about 30 minutes.
European Production as Competitive Advantage
The EV2 is the second fully electric vehicle manufactured at the Žilina facility, which received a €200 million modernisation programme completed in 2025. Kia aims to build approximately 100,000 units annually by 2027. The vehicle measures 4,060 mm in length with a 2,565 mm wheelbase.
The base Light trim is a four-seater; higher trims offer five seats. Lease options start from €239 per month.
Price and Range Positioning Against Chinese Rivals
The standard range EV2 undercuts the Renault 5 E-Tech‘s €24,990 base price by a smaller margin once equipment is compared, while offering more interior space and a seven-year warranty.
Leapmotor‘s T03 achieves a €4,900 price in Italy only through a combination of government subsidies and manufacturer discounts; its French list price is approximately €19,500. The EV2‘s €26,600 entry price requires no subsidy support.
The Open Question
The EV2 demonstrates that a European-built affordable EV is commercially viable at a price point that competes directly with Chinese imports.
The open question is whether the EV2 can hold its price point without ongoing EU or national incentive support, and if so, whether it closes the competitive gap with Chinese imported EVs that subsidy-dependent pricing has temporarily widened.
