Kia Clavis name could be used for the forthcoming electric RV confirmed for India or could it be a micro SUV?
Kia India has been strengthening its SUV lineup recently as the facelifted Seltos debuted a few months ago and the new Sonet was unveiled earlier this week ahead of its market launch in January 2024. The Seltos facelift has been well received by customers and it gained exterior updates and new features to further spice up the proceedings in the segment.
The South Korean auto major is currently the fifth largest car producer in the country and has a stronghold over its position due to the good reception for the Seltos and Sonet while the Carens has been a decent performer too. Kia is looking to expand its product portfolio in India and will introduce the fourth-generation global Carnival in 2024.
It is expected to be followed by the EV9 flagship seven-seater SUV based on the same E-GMP platform as the Ioniq 5 and Ioniq 6. The Ioniq 6 premium electric sedan made its local debut at the 2023 Auto Expo earlier this year and it may as well be considered for India. Kia has already confirmed a brand new electric RV for India and it will arrive by the middle of this decade.
Amidst the happenings, the company has applied a trademark for the name Clavis and let us dissect what it could be used for! The Kia Clavis could be the nameplate of the forthcoming zero-emission RV but no official confirmation has been made yet. As you might know, filing for a trademark does not necessarily mean it will be used for sure.
So, let’s take it with a grain of salt for now! Kia has been banking big on the RV (MPV) segment and its persistence has paid off with the Carens as it appeals to family-based customers and is practical. In a similar fashion, Kia could kick start an electric MPV segment with the Clavis while most of its competitors are currently working on bringing up midsize e-SUVs within the next three years.
Another possibility is that the Clavis moniker could be used for a new micro SUV to sit below the Sonet and it may have a lot in common with the Hyundai Exter. We hope to know more details about it in the near future.