---
title: "The Kia Soul EV Isn’t Coming to the US, And That Sorta Stinks: Report"
description: "It looks like a solid little electric car with 243 miles of range. Pour one out."
date: "2020-07-31"
modified: "2020-07-31"
authors:
  - name: "James Gilboy"
    job_title: "Contributing Writer"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/james-gilboy"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/35265/the-kia-soul-ev-isnt-coming-to-the-us-and-that-sorta-stinks-report"
categories:
  - "Car Tech"
  - "Electric Vehicles"
  - "Kia News"
  - "News"
  - "News by Brand"
tags:
  - "compact"
  - "Electric Vehicle"
  - "Kia"
  - "Soul"
---

# The Kia Soul EV Isn’t Coming to the US, And That Sorta Stinks: Report

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/2020/07/14729_2020_Soul_GT-Line.jpg>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com</em>*

When Kia revealed its redesigned, [Range Rover Sport](<https://www.thedrive.com/new-cars/22440/2018-range-rover-sport-svr-review-this-575-hp-solid-wall-of-sound-is-beautifully-brutal>)-esque new Soul back in late 2018, it also confirmed plans to heavily upgrade its electric derivative. The improved Soul EV's 243-mile range (EPA), ample interior space for a subcompact and idiosyncratic, luxo-lite looks made it a promising little EV—emphasis on the past tense, because Kia has reportedly backed down on bringing the electric Soul stateside.

Originally planned for launch in 2019 but delayed to 2020 and then 2021 due to a drivetrain component shortage, the Soul EV has according to [*Roadshow*](<https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/news/kia-soul-ev-dead-canceled/>) been entirely excised from Kia's United States ambitions. The publication allegedly received word of the change from "a source inside Kia Motors America," whose claims are corroborated by changes to Kia's public-facing web presence. No more is the Soul EV displayed on [Kia USA's product list](<https://www.kia.com/us/en/vehicles>), and the electric variant is not listed on [the Soul's configuration page](<https://www.kia.com/us/en/soul/build>). Additionally, the 2020 Soul EV's range estimate, formerly listed on [the EPA's FuelEconomy.gov database](<https://www.fueleconomy.gov>) according to *Roadshow*, has been retracted.

![message-editor%2F1596206699924-14743\_2020\_soul\_gt-line.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/content-b/message-editor/1596206699924-14743_2020_soul_gt-line.jpg>)
*2020 Kia Soul GT-Line, *Kia**

When contacted by *The Drive* for a statement on its plans for the Soul EV, a Kia spokesperson had no developments to confirm.

"The Soul EV is not planned to be offered in the this market until 2021 at the earliest and Kia reserves the right to alter its product lineup at any time," commented James Hope, Kia's national manager for production communications. "Our focus remains on the Niro line of vehicles, which includes a hybrid, PHEV and EV and when we have more news to share on the Soul EV, we will do so."

If Kia *has* backed down on the Soul EV as reported, it couldn't be faulted for doing so in light of how the car market has changed these last two years. Introducing the Soul EV could cannibalize sales from the slightly larger [Niro EV](<https://www.thedrive.com/new-cars/32340/a-frozen-500-mile-mad-dash-through-quebec-shows-what-the-kia-niro-ev-can-and-cant-do>), with which the Soul shares a platform and drivetrain, and whose price the Soul might struggle to significantly undercut. America's ever-shrinking subcompact segment is also a tougher place to launch an EV now that the Chevrolet Bolt has been upgraded, with 2020 models now touting a range of 259 miles (EPA) and a more masses-friendly [Bolt EUV crossover](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/27546/upcoming-chevrolet-electric-crossover-revealed-via-bolt-euv-patent-filing-report>) expected soon. And while the COVID-19 economic slump has done ugly things to the global car business, the nail it hammered into the Soul EV's coffin may have already been redundant.

*Got a tip? Send us a note: tips@thedrive.com*

*h/t* [*The Korean Car Blog*](<https://thekoreancarblog.com/2020/07/29/kia-soul-ev-will-not-come-to-us-market-after-all/>)

## Author
James is a former staff writer for The Drive. He has changed the conversation around electrification, debunked misinformation online, and become a prominent hunter of what he calls "automotive cryptids."

### Author social links  
[Instagram](<https://instagram.com/jamesgilboy>)