Motability Operations and Kia Corporation have signed a deal to develop more affordable and inclusive mobility solutions.
A key item of the MoU will be bringing the PV5 WAV to the UK market in locally converted and fully integrated variants.
Motability Operations currently has over 35,000 WAVs on the Motability Scheme and continues to work closely with UK converters who are also investing in EV-ready designs.
By collaborating with Kia and other manufacturers, Motability Operations aims to embed accessibility at every stage of vehicle design, ensuring this critical area of the market is protected for the future.
The PV5, will join the Motability Scheme as a passenger vehicle from early 2026.
Locally converted wheelchair accessible variants are expected to follow shortly after, and a fully integrated side-entry WAV variant designed and built by Kia will follow later in the year.
Motability Operations will support the development process of the PV5 WAV by sharing British Standards approved technical expertise through PAS 2012-1 and customer insights.
The organisations will also ensure the vehicle meets the technological requirements necessary to be registered in the UK and qualify for the Motability Scheme.
Ho Sung Song, President of Kia Corporation, said: “There is no better demonstration of the commitment towards Kia’s vision of ‘Sustainable Mobility Solutions Provider’ than the innovative independence that the PV5 WAV offers to those facing mobility challenges.
“The signing of this MOU with Motability Operations reinforces our commitment to leading a future where ‘Mobility for All’ is both sustainable and a basic human right.”
Beyond the vehicle itself, Kia and Motability Operations are exploring smart charging solutions that allow customers to automatically charge when tariffs are lowest, helping reduce running costs which will benefit all drivers.
The partnership will also look at how technologies such as Vehicle-to-Home (V2H) and Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) can further reduce total cost of ownership and support the wider sustainability transition.
