Kia has achieved significant recognition at the 2026 iF Design Awards, with its PV5 model earning the coveted Gold award in Automotive Product Design, leading a total of nine honors across the company’s portfolio. The accolades underscore Kia’s ongoing commitment to design excellence, innovation, and user-focused experiences, while reaffirming the brand’s leadership in both conventional and emerging mobility categories.
The Kia PV5, the company’s first PBV (Platform Beyond Vehicle) model, was singled out by the jury of 129 international design and sustainability experts for its “unmatched flexibility and customizability,” as well as its “human-centered interior architecture” and overall “cohesive, confident, and future-ready design.” The Gold award represents one of the highest distinctions at the iF Design Awards, reserved for entries that demonstrate exceptional innovation, quality, and forward-thinking design principles.
In addition to the PV5, Kia received multiple awards in automotive product design, concept, branding, and user interface categories. The EV4 and EV4 Hatchback earned recognition for their clean, spacious interiors and dynamic, low-nose, long-tail silhouettes, establishing them as new typologies of electric sedans designed to blend aesthetic elegance with practical usability.
Kia’s commitment to design excellence extends beyond vehicles themselves. The Kia AI Assistant, recognized in the App/Software Design category, exemplifies the brand’s philosophy of creating interactive, human-centered digital experiences. The AI Assistant integrates 3D motion design cues drawn from Kia’s logo to provide lifelike, intuitive interactions for drivers and passengers, reinforcing the concept of “Life in Motion” through technology.
Further demonstrating Kia’s innovative approach to storytelling and engagement, the Kia PV5 Story—developed in collaboration with Playmobil for the 2025 Seoul Mobility Show—earned recognition in the Branding & Communication Design category. Through a series of four personas representing urban delivery, accessible taxi services, mobile office, and community hub applications, the campaign brought the PV5 PBV platform to life, combining film, exhibition, digital, and merchandise channels to create a relatable, immersive experience. The accompanying PV5 Adventure 3D animated film extended this narrative, blending creativity and technical sophistication to make complex mobility concepts accessible to broad audiences.
Kia’s concept vehicles were also celebrated. The Concept EV2 won in the Product Concepts category, highlighting a compact SUV designed around the theme of “picnic in the city.” It combines modular versatility, spacious interiors, and an adventurous character aimed at urban mobility and active lifestyles. The PV5 WKNDR, described as a “Swiss Army Knife on wheels,” also earned accolades for its rugged electric adventure van concept, emphasizing adaptability, functionality, and lifestyle-oriented mobility.
In the User Interface category, the PV5 Infotainment System was recognized for its role as a software-defined ecosystem, connecting drivers, passengers, and business services through a flexible visual and interaction framework. The system adapts to diverse mobility roles, from taxis and cargo delivery to leisure applications, transforming the vehicle into a versatile, digitally responsive platform that bridges professional and personal use.
Karim Habib, Executive Vice President and Head of Kia Global Design, commented on the 2026 awards: “Kia’s continued success at the iF Design Awards is testament to the brand’s ongoing commitment to using innovative design to create products that make a positive difference in our users’ lives. Winning an unprecedented nine awards across such a broad range of categories affirms our approach and motivates us to continue placing future-forward design at the center of everything we do.”
The iF Design Awards, one of the world’s most prestigious design competitions, adjudicates submissions based on innovation, usability, aesthetics, and sustainability. Each year, a highly selective panel evaluates over 10,000 entries from dozens of countries, with Gold awards reserved for the most exceptional and forward-looking contributions to design.
Kia’s 2026 success brings the company’s total iF Design Awards to 46 since 2010, reinforcing its global reputation as a leader in design innovation, user-centered technology, and holistic mobility solutions. These accolades reflect the company’s strategy of blending aesthetic appeal, functionality, and digital sophistication to deliver meaningful experiences to drivers, passengers, and broader communities.
