Supply issues are hampering the production of the Soul EV, the electric version of the third-generation Kia Soul. As a result, the automaker likely won’t be able to release the model in time for the 2020 model year.
It looks like U.S. buyers would have to wait until 2021 to get their hands on a battery-powered Soul. According to reports, Kia is blaming the delay on the shortage of electric motors and issues related to the battery pack.
But aside from this, reports are also looking into the possibility that the interruption may partly be caused by the company’s decision to sell only the electric version of the vehicle on the European market.
The Soul EV is said to have arrived in several European nations, with a number of dealers in France confirming they already have units in their inventory.
As far as the United States is concerned, though, anticipation for the Soul EV will be prolonged. But when it does launch, it will be worth the wait as the model is expected to drive up to 243 miles on a single charge. This distance is twice the number of miles its predecessor can reach. The model also features a 64-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery that makes 201 horsepower, the same one the Hyundai Kona Electric is equipped with.
Among entry-level electric vehicles on the market, experts are naming the upcoming Soul EV as a top choice for consumers.
When the Soul EV arrives, Kia is expected to sell it in more states than its previously axed model, which was released only in 13 states, including Hawaii, New York, Georgia, and California.
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