Kia Company introduced collectively world bodybuilders on the 2025 World PBV Conversion Companions Day, held November 25–27, to strengthen collaboration throughout the PBV (Platform Past Car) ecosystem and drive improvement of numerous PBV fashions.
The occasion happened throughout a number of areas, together with Seoul and Hwaseong, that includes Kia’s Hwaseong EVO Plant and the PBV Expertise Heart in Pyeongtaek. About 120 contributors attended, together with Kia executives and representatives from bodybuilders throughout Korea, Europe, Japan, Africa, the Center East and Canada.
PBV conversion refers to growing and producing specialised fashions by using PBVs as a platform to satisfy clients’ particular functions and desires. Kia organized the occasion to broaden conversion partnerships and construct a PBV ecosystem that fosters mutual progress.
The PBV Conversion Partnership is a collaborative framework wherein Kia offers automobile manufacturing and certification data, together with technical help, enabling bodybuilders to supply quite a lot of specialised fashions with complete-vehicle high quality. After finishing the required procedures, bodybuilders are formally designated as companions.
Kia has chosen 10 Korean bodybuilders as PBV Conversion Companions and goals to additional strengthen the PBV ecosystem by increasing partnerships with bodybuilders in different areas, together with roughly 10 in Europe. The occasion additionally featured a signing ceremony with newly appointed PBV Conversion Companions.
“Kia will strengthen collaboration with bodybuilders worldwide to ship autos and providers optimized for numerous enterprise environments,” stated Sangdae Kim, Government Vice President and Head of PBV Enterprise Division at Kia Company. “We anticipate that this expanded collaboration will permit Kia to supply clients high-quality conversion choices, speed up PBV adoption and construct a rising, interconnected ecosystem.”
On the occasion, Kia offered its PBV enterprise technique, the PBV Conversion Partnership program and its operational course to taking part bodybuilders and arranged a tour of AutoLand Hwaseong EVO Plant, Kia’s devoted PBV manufacturing facility.
Kia unveiled the mass-production mannequin of the PV5 — lately named the 2026 Worldwide Van of the Yr — alongside a spread of conversion-ready configurations. These embody the Chassis Cab, that includes solely the chassis and passenger cabin, and the Donor Mannequin, pre-stripped of elements equivalent to seats and inside trims for straightforward customization. The occasion additionally supplied attendees the chance to expertise take a look at drives.
Going ahead, Kia is about to host the World PBV Conversion Companions Day yearly as a daily occasion.
Earlier this month, Kia marked the completion of the Hwaseong EVO Plant East and broke floor on the EVO Plant West at AutoLand Hwaseong, establishing a PBV manufacturing hub with an annual capability of 250,000 models. The corporate additionally operates its devoted PBV Conversion Heart close by to co-develop specialised fashions with Korean and world companions.
