April 26, 2026 | Bonus Episode: Kia’s Eric Watson on the EV3 and electrification strategy
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RET1
RET1 is software dealerships use to sell cars online. It helps customers pick a car and financing options faster, often including trade-ins and extra protection products.
digital retailing
Digital retailing is the process of letting customers research, configure, and often finance a vehicle online rather than doing everything in person. The segment highlights how estimated payments, trade-ins, and protection products can be handled digitally to speed up sales.
vehicle financing options
Financing options are the different payment plans you can choose to buy a car. The key point in this segment is that shoppers can see estimated monthly payments online.
trade-ins
A trade-in is your current car being used toward the purchase of the new car. The dealer credits you for it, which can lower what you need to finance.
optional protection products
Optional protection products are extra coverage you can buy with a car, like plans to help pay for repairs or service. The point here is that dealerships can show these options during the online purchase process.
Kia EV3
The Kia EV3 is Kia’s upcoming compact electric crossover for the U.S. market. It’s a new EV model that helps Kia grow its lineup of electric cars in America.
electrification strategy
An electrification strategy is a company’s plan for how it will sell more electric cars over time. Here, Kia is using the EV3 to strengthen its EV lineup and keep up with what EV shoppers want.
evolving EV market
The evolving EV market means the EV industry is changing—what people want, how many choices they have, and how companies compete. Kia is saying it’s watching those changes as it plans new EVs like the EV3.
compact EV SUV
This means a smaller electric SUV. It’s designed to be easier to live with day-to-day and usually targets buyers who want an EV but don’t want a big, expensive one.
EV6
The EV6 is another Kia electric vehicle that’s already been sold in the U.S. The hosts mention it to show Kia has had some success with EVs before bringing the EV3.
EV9
The EV9 is Kia’s larger electric SUV. They bring it up because it’s already doing well, and the EV3 is meant to expand Kia’s EV options further down the price ladder.
fuel economy
For an EV, “fuel economy” is about how efficiently it uses electricity. Better efficiency usually means you spend less to drive and you can get more miles out of each charge.
range
Range is the distance an EV can travel on a full charge under specified testing conditions. The hosts treat range as a major buying factor, especially for shoppers comparing compact EVs where real-world expectations can strongly influence demand.
connected car
A connected car can use the internet to power features like remote app controls and smarter navigation. It’s basically what makes the car feel more “tech-enabled” beyond just driving.
internal combustion and hybrid and electric vehicles
They’re saying the company isn’t only making EVs—it’s also selling gas cars and hybrids. That helps them serve different buyers while the EV market grows.
EV market disruption
They mean the EV market has been changing fast, with ups and downs in sales. Now they’re saying things are starting to calm down a bit.
electrify our lineup
They’re saying the company plans to sell more electric cars and electrified versions of cars. That can include fully electric cars or cars that use both a battery and gas. The goal is to offer options for more kinds of drivers.
battery electric EVs
A battery-electric car is powered by electricity only. You charge it by plugging it in, and it doesn’t burn gas to drive.
hybrid sales
A hybrid uses both gas and electricity to help the car move more efficiently. When they talk about hybrid sales, they mean how many hybrid cars they’re selling.
Savannah plant
This is a factory location in Savannah, Georgia. When a company adds capacity there, it usually means they can build more cars for the US.
tax credit
A tax credit is a government incentive that reduces the amount of tax a buyer owes, effectively lowering the purchase cost of an eligible EV. The transcript highlights that without the tax credit, affordability and operating costs become more important in the buying decision.
total cost of ownership
Total cost of ownership means what the car really costs you over time, not just the price tag. It includes things like charging costs and upkeep.
charge at home
If you can charge your EV at home, it usually costs less than charging at public stations. It’s also more convenient because you can plug in overnight.
leasing
Leasing means you pay to use a car for a few years and then return it or decide what to do next. For EVs, leasing has helped more people try electric cars without committing long-term right away.
EV family
An “EV family” is when a brand builds several electric cars that look and feel similar. The goal is that once you recognize one model, you’ll recognize the rest too.
design resemblance
Design resemblance means the cars share similar styling so they look like they belong to the same brand. That can help people notice and remember the vehicles more easily.
trade and valuation
Trade and valuation is the online estimate of what your current car might be worth as a trade-in. It helps you understand how much of your car’s value can go toward the next purchase and what that could mean for your payments.
Fusion
Fusion is a software tool dealerships pay for to make online car shopping easier. It can help you get an estimate of your trade-in value and understand what you might pay before you ever visit the dealership.
appointment scheduling
Appointment scheduling means the dealership lets you pick a time to come in, right from the website or app. It saves time because you don’t have to call to find out when they’re free.
pre-qualification tools
Pre-qualification tools are an early, online way to get a rough idea of financing options. It helps you understand possible payment ranges before you go through the full paperwork at the dealership.
production product presentations
This sounds like a feature that helps dealerships show relevant vehicle/product details earlier during the online process. The goal is to help you compare options sooner instead of waiting for the in-person visit.
EV transition
An “EV transition” is when car companies shift their plans from gas engines to electric cars. They have to change factories, suppliers, and product plans, and it’s hard because the market can move faster than expected.
Kia Celtos
The Kia Celtos is a smaller SUV. Kia is betting on it to sell in bigger numbers, and they’re highlighting its bold, boxy look.
Kia Telluride
The Kia Telluride is a bigger family SUV from Kia. They’re saying people expected it to be a strong, improved step for the brand.
EV lineup
An “EV lineup” is the set of electric vehicles a brand sells, and it often shares design cues and technology themes. Watson says the Celtos looks “strikingly familiar” to Kia’s EVs, implying a unified design identity across electrified models.
cost of operations
“Cost of operations” just means what it costs to keep the car running over time. They’re saying the hybrid should cut your fuel spending compared to a regular gas car.
consideration set
A “consideration set” is the short list of vehicles a shopper thinks about before buying. Watson connects affordability and AWD-hybrid capability to widening Kia’s consideration—meaning more people will seriously consider Kia models.
E-all-wheel drive
“E-all-wheel drive” means the car uses an electric system to help drive the wheels for better grip. Kia is combining that with a hybrid so it’s more attractive for people in snowy or rough-weather areas.
Sportage Hybrid
A Sportage Hybrid is a Kia Sportage SUV that uses both a gasoline engine and an electric system to help it use less fuel. The big point here is that Kia plans to build this hybrid SUV in the U.S., so it can be delivered to dealers faster and more reliably.
all EV plant
An “all EV plant” is a factory set up mainly to make electric cars. Here, Kia is saying the plant’s role expanded beyond just EVs to include hybrids too, so they’re not relying on one future only.
flexible
“Flexible” here means Kia wants the factory to be able to change what it builds as conditions change. If demand or rules shift, it’s easier to adjust when the plant isn’t limited to only one type of car.
localize here
“Localize” means making the cars closer to where they’ll be sold, instead of shipping them from overseas. That can help with cost and can also help the company qualify for certain trade-related requirements.
tariffs
Tariffs are extra taxes on products brought in from other countries. If cars or parts cost more because of tariffs, automakers may choose to build more locally to keep prices competitive.
production when that plant in Savannah comes online
When a factory “comes online,” it starts making cars in a big, steady way. Making cars locally can help companies avoid extra costs and delays from shipping and trade rules.
long-term product planning
Long-term product planning is how automakers decide what vehicles to build, where to build them, and when to launch them years in advance. Trade policy uncertainty (like tariffs) can force companies to build flexibility into timelines, sourcing, and production locations.
flexibility in that system
Flexibility means the company can change what it’s doing when the situation changes. For car makers, that might mean switching suppliers, adjusting how much they build, or shifting production to different places.