July 17, 2026 | The week’s top stories and Kia’s David Sherrard on PV5

July 17, 2026 | The week’s top stories and Kia’s David Sherrard on PV5 Automotive News Canada Podcast · Jul 17, 2026

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Term

warranty

A warranty is the promise that if something breaks, the company will pay for certain repairs. For dealers, the worry is whether warranty claims will cost them money.

Concept

years of losses before turning a profit

This describes a dealer economics reality where early sales volumes and margins may not cover costs, so profitability is delayed. It’s a common pattern when new brands ramp up distribution, especially with uncertain EV demand and service/warranty expenses.

Term

regulatory approval

Regulatory approvals are the official checks and permissions needed before a vehicle can be sold. The segment is saying Dong Feng can’t start selling in Canada until it clears those steps.

Company

Dongfeng

Dong Feng is a Chinese car company. They’re planning to sell electric cars in Canada and may also look at building vehicles there with a partner.

Place

Montreal

Montreal is a city in Canada. The episode says Dongfeng is showing EVs there as part of its Canadian plans.

Term

joint venture

A joint venture is when two companies team up to do a project together. In this case, it would be a way to build vehicles in Canada by sharing the work and costs.

Company

Unifor

Unifor is a Canadian union. Here, they’re negotiating a new work contract with Ford for the auto industry.

Company

Ford

Ford is the car company. In this story, they’re negotiating a new agreement with the union about jobs and pay.

Company

Stellantis

Stellantis is a large group that makes cars. The episode says the next union contract pattern could also apply to Stellantis.

Company

General Motors

General Motors is another big car company. The episode is saying the next contract talks after Ford will likely involve GM too.

Term

federal EV incentives

A federal EV incentive is money from the government that helps lower the price of an electric vehicle. If a vehicle qualifies, it can make the same van cost less to the buyer.

Term

PVB

PVB here is a shorthand for the “value” the company says you get. They’re saying the van costs less to buy and costs less to run over time.

Term

EV abbreviate

This sounds like the name of an electric-vehicle incentive or eligibility rule. The speaker’s point is that because the van’s price is under $50,000, it can qualify for government help.

Term

EV drivetrain

An EV drivetrain is the parts that move the car using electricity. The speaker is saying it helps the van cost less to run than a gas vehicle.

Term

fuel savings

Fuel savings means spending less money on energy. The speaker is saying charging an electric van costs less than buying gas or diesel, and it can be more predictable.

Term

maintenance

Here, “maintenance” means how often you have to service the vehicle. The speaker is saying EVs usually need less work, so the van spends more time working and less time in the shop.

Term

utilization of the vehicle

Utilization means how much the van is actually being used for deliveries or work. If it needs fewer repairs and less shop time, it can be used more often.

Concept

fleet operators have delayed electrification

Some delivery and service companies have been waiting to switch to electric vehicles. The host is asking whether today’s lower prices and lower running costs make it a smarter move than before.

Term

total cost of ownership

Total cost of ownership means the real cost of a vehicle over time. It includes what you pay to run it—like energy and maintenance—not just what you pay to buy it.

Term

platform beyond vehicle

“Platform beyond vehicle” is Kia’s way of saying they’re thinking bigger than just building a van. They’re trying to build a whole business solution around the vehicle for companies.

Term

commercial EV adoption

This means how businesses start using electric vehicles instead of gas or diesel for their work. The question here is how fast Canadian companies will make that switch and what affects their decision.

Car

PV5

Kia’s PV5 is a commercial electric van. The host is talking about why it’s meant for businesses that drive a lot in cities—so they can keep operating costs down while still having enough electric range for their routes.

Term

test-and-learn phase

A test-and-learn phase is when a company tries electric vehicles on a small scale first. They use that time to see how the EVs perform in real life—like costs, charging, and whether they fit the job.

Term

payload impact to range

Payload impact to range is about how the weight of cargo changes how far an electric van can go. If you carry more, you usually use more battery, so the range can drop.

Term

battery health longevity

Battery health longevity means how long the EV battery stays strong and doesn’t lose too much range. Fleets care because battery wear affects long-term costs and usefulness.

Term

public and home charging solutions

This means the ways EVs get charged: at home and at public charging stations. Fleets need both so they can keep vehicles running without long delays.

Term

last-mile delivery

Last mile delivery is the final part of getting packages to you. It usually happens in busy city areas with lots of stops, so a van that’s efficient and easy to park matters.

Term

underground parking garages

Underground parking garages are common in big cities, but they can be tight. The speaker is saying the PV5 is sized and shaped to fit those spaces more easily.

Place

Vancouver

Vancouver is included as an example of a city where parking can be tight, especially with condos and underground garages. The speaker is saying the PV5 is meant to handle that kind of environment.

Place

Toronto

Toronto is used as an example of a big, dense city. The point is that parking can be tight, so the van needs to fit and maneuver well.

Term

nimble turn radius

Turn radius is how tight a vehicle can turn. A nimble turn radius helps in cities where streets and parking spots are tight, so the van is easier to maneuver.

Brand

Ram

Ram is mentioned as a well-known commercial van brand. It’s part of the list of competitors to Kia’s PV5.

Brand

GM

GM is mentioned as another major van maker. The discussion uses GM as part of the list of competitors to Kia.

Brand

Mercedes

Mercedes is mentioned as one of the big companies in commercial vans. It’s included to show who Kia is competing against.

Car

Dodge Ram

Dodge Ram is a type of work vehicle made for hauling people or cargo. Some versions are vans that businesses use for deliveries and daily jobs. It comes up in discussions about commercial vehicles because it’s commonly chosen by fleets.

Term

EV powertrain

An EV powertrain is the electric system that makes the van move. It includes the battery and the electric motor, and in this case it’s set up to work well in city traffic where you constantly speed up and slow down.

Term

stop-and-go driving

Stop-and-go city driving refers to frequent low-speed starts and stops, typical of urban delivery routes. EVs often perform well here because electric motors provide strong low-speed torque and can recapture energy during deceleration (depending on the vehicle’s regen system).

Term

interior space

Interior space is how much room the van has inside. For a delivery vehicle, more interior space usually means more cargo capacity without making the van too large for city streets.

Term

minimize the footprint

Minimizing the footprint means making the van take up less space overall. That can help it fit and maneuver better in busy city areas and tight parking spots.

Term

fleet customers

Fleet customers are companies that use vehicles for their business, often more than one van at a time. The guest is saying the PV5 can help those businesses look better while operating.

LIVE

Hi everyone and welcome to the July 17th, 2026 episode of the Automotive News Canada

podcast. I'm your host Greg Lason, the digital and mobile editor at Automotive News Canada,

coming to you from just outside Windsor, Ontario, the automotive capital of Canada.

Today on the show we hear from Kia Canada director of strategic planning, David Charard.

He recently spoke with Automotive News Canada publisher Tim Domopoulos. The two discussed

the new PV5 commercial electric van from pricing to capabilities and more. But first,

a look at some of the top Canadian automotive stories of the week.

Canadian dealers once eager to sign with brands such as BYD, Cherry and Geely are growing more

cautious. Questions remain about warranty, service, dealer agreements and profitability. Industry

experts say many dealers now expect years of losses before turning a profit. But they also

believe the outlook could change dramatically if Chinese automakers eventually build assembly

plants in Canada. That would provide a more reliable supply of vehicles.

Sticking with Chinese EVs for a moment, Dong Feng plans to begin selling electric vehicles in Canada

next year. It first needs regulatory approvals. The state-owned automaker is showcasing several EVs

at an event in Montreal this week. The company also says it's interested in manufacturing vehicles

in Canada through a joint venture. That aligns with Ottawa's goal of attracting Chinese investment

alongside increased EV imports. On the labour front, Unifor and Ford have negotiated a new

tentative contract. The proposed three-year agreement comes after nearly three weeks of

bargaining and marathon talks that stretch past the Union's July 10th deadline. Details remain

under wraps until members hold a ratification vote. Voting starts today and runs through July 19th.

If ratified, the deal will set the pattern for upcoming negotiations with General Motors and

Stellantis, covering key issues including wages, retirement security and income protection.

We'll now hear a conversation between Automotive News Canada publisher Tim Domopoulos

and Kia Canada director of strategic planning, David Charard. David, affordability is clearly part

of the PV5 story with a competitive starting price and eligibility for the federal EV incentive.

How important was it to hit that price point, which you can tell me all about, and what does it mean

for Canadian businesses considering the switch to electric? Well, you know, I think when you're

looking at consumers buying passenger cars or cars for themselves, there's a bit of emotion mixed in

for personal use. But for commercial businesses, it really is all about maximizing value, its

capability versus cost, the ongoing operating costs, and the PVB combines low operating costs with

a low upfront investment. Both of our trims fall below $50,000, which make it eligible for the

EV abbreviate, while still providing the capability that commercial users need. So,

it really is a very compelling option for companies that want to minimize those operating costs,

and that EV drive train makes the case even stronger. All right, so beyond just the purchase

price, where can businesses expect to see the biggest savings over the life of the PV5?

Well, there's a couple big areas. I think fuel savings definitely won versus charge and cost.

So, it's significantly less expensive to charge a vehicle than to fill the tank, and that protects

companies from fluctuations in fuel pricing as well, if they're doing their kind of long-term

financial modeling. And secondly, maintenance. The EVs require less of it, and so not only does

that mean fewer trips and fewer costs for the maintenance itself, but because there's fewer

service required, that means more time on the road, less downtime, more utilization of the vehicle,

and really helps to fulfill its commercial purpose. So, really too full on that one.

All right, so many fleet operators have delayed electrification because of economic uncertainty.

So, do you think the combination of lower pricing, incentives, and lower total cost of ownership

and operating costs creates a stronger business case today than it did a few years ago when it

comes to electric? Yeah, absolutely. Before the PV5, if you wanted an electric van, you were forced

into something that was much larger, and if you wanted a compact cargo van, you had to take a nice

model. So, the PV5 addresses that unmet need in the market, and it does so with the backing of an

affordable MSRP and the government incentives. Okay, now it is the first dedicated commercial EV

for Kia, and part of your broader strategy called platform beyond vehicle. So, where does it fit

into Kia's long-term vision, and how do you see commercial EV adoption evolving among Canadian

fleet operators over the next few years? Yeah, I think the PV5, as I said, kind of really addresses

an unmet need in the market today, and that's kind of key to our strategy and bringing it into the

Canadian market. Just as an aside, if you compare the product lineup of Kia in Canada and the ULS,

you'll note several differences, and the PV5 is one of them. So, our goal is to launch products that

meet the needs of Canadians, whether that's commercial or retail. And with fleet specifically,

a lot of them are in kind of test-and-learn phase of electric vehicles, while some, of course,

are fully transitioned. The decision is made very, very heavily based on vehicle costs,

both upfront and throughout the lifecycle, as well as how the vehicle functions. So,

payload impact to range, public and home charging solutions, battery health longevity.

And with the battery and vehicle technology we have, and the charging solutions growing at such

a rapid pace, it really does support EV growth within three industries. The total cost of ownership

really would be hard to argue. Okay, now the vehicle is designed to support a variety of

uplifts and business applications. So, which Canadian industries or customer segments do you

see as the biggest opportunity for a PV5 and why? Well, telecoms, trades, food and hospitality,

last mile delivery, these are all the ones that are at the top of our list. These industries have

a really strong presence in urban markets and the PV5 offers the size, one that allows it to be

in underground parking garages and condos in places like Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver.

It has a nimble turn radius, parking safety features, etc. that make it work really well

for that urban environment. And it also has an EV range that gives these fleets the opportunity to

have more time on the road and allows for that flexibility and efficiency in their daily operations.

We talked a lot about PV5 helping small businesses reduce their costs, but let's talk a little bit

about their sustainability goals. It seems to have taken a little bit of a backseat compared to

costs these days regarding affordability. So, tell me a little bit about how that helps companies

that are still looking at sustainability as a goal. The benefit of this van is you can reach

those sustainability goals without sacrificing anything. A lot of the features, a lot of the

pricing, a lot of the strategy behind the van was to deliver everything you could really want

in a small urban delivery vehicle while at the same time being zero emissions. So, I would say

it's a choice and an ability to go in a sustainable route without any downside or any trade-offs that

those companies would have to make. Okay, now last question. Commercial vans from Ford, GM and

Mercedes and even Ram have really dominated the commercial van segment over the years. So,

what advantages does the PV5 offer that you believe will convince Canadian businesses to

choose Kia instead of the other companies? Well, it's the only van of its kind, really. It has

a EV powertrain that's optimized for stop-and-go city driving. That EV platform allows you to

maximize the interior space and minimize the footprint. So, really, you can do more or deliver

more for less when you compare it to those other vans. A lot of customers also see the value in

Kia's technology and safety features at this lower price point that we've been able to bring

the van in for. A lot of other cargo vans might lack some of the tech and comfort features that we

have really ended an incredible price point. Also important to note that we have a very strong

warranty, which is an advantage for us and it's a great-looking van. It's a strong design which

is going to help elevate the perception of our fleet customers' businesses as well.

Dwayne, can we expect to start seeing deliveries and Wednesday on sale date?

We'll see them towards the fourth quarter. I'd like to thank David for his time and Tim for

conducting the interview. If you'd like to be a guest on the show, have a suggestion or simply

want to comment, email me at glason at AutoNews.com. And remember, you can listen to all our previous

podcasts on Spotify, iTunes, Google Play, or on our website, automotivenews.ca. Just scroll to

the podcast hub in the middle of our homepage. And don't forget, you can follow Automotive News

Canada on X, where we're at Auto News Canada. And you can find me there too under at G-Lacin, A-N-C.

Finally, you can find us on LinkedIn, just search Automotive News Canada.

That does it for this episode of the Automotive News Canada podcast. We hope you'll join us next

time. So long, everybody.

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years of losses before turning a profit

PVB

EV abbreviate

utilization of the vehicle

minimize the footprint

About this episode

Original notes