Kia's PV5 Chassis Cab Becomes a Pint-Sized Electric Dump Truck

Kia’s modular electric van keeps proving it can wear almost any hat. The newest example: a compact dump truck built on the PV5 Chassis Cab, which the brand rolled out for the European and UK markets just last week with a flat, open rear deck designed to accept third-party bodies.

Among the conversions Kia presented through the TGS Automotive Group at SOLUTRANS 2025 last November, the lightweight tipper stands out as the most unusual. Developed specifically for the PV5 Chassis Cab, it pairs a lightweight aluminum tipping trailer with matching aluminum sideboards, a 300 mm tailgate, and folding aluminum rear stakes. Anyone who has spent time in construction or landscaping knows how valuable a tipper can be, and this one packages that utility into a footprint small enough for dense urban work.

The Chassis Cab ships in the UK exclusively with the long-range 71.2 kWh battery, rated for up to 258 miles (416 km) on the WLTP cycle, while other markets will also get a standard-range 51.1 kWh option. DC fast charging peaks at 120 kW, taking the pack from 10% to 80% in roughly half an hour, and an 11 kW AC supply fills it completely in about six and a half hours. Final range and payload figures shift depending on the conversion, but Kia claims a best-in-class payload of up to 1,005 kg (2,200 lbs). Kia also notes a best-in-class 5.5-meter turning radius, a genuine advantage for tight city streets and cluttered job sites alike.

The tipper is far from the only build Kia showed. A lightweight camper complete with a full kitchen and a food truck variant also appeared at the event, underscoring the flexibility of the chassis-cab layout for small businesses and outdoor enthusiasts.

Kia plans to launch the PV5 Chassis Cab across the UK and Europe over the coming months, with pricing and availability varying by region. The broader PV5 family is set to grow to 10 body styles, and Kia confirmed at its PBV Production Hub Tech Day last month that the larger PV7, the second van in its purpose-built vehicle lineup, arrives next year.