Kia signed a business agreement with the charging operator "Chaebi" on Feb. 27 and announced the launch of the corporate-exclusive charging solution "Kia e-Life Package Biz," reflecting the needs of corporate electric vehicle (EV) customers.

On the 27th, Kia held a signing ceremony at Kia 360 (Apgujeong, Seoul), attended by Vice President Jeong Won-jeong, head of Kia's domestic business division, and CEO Choi Young-hoon of Chaebi, agreeing to cooperate in creating a charging environment for seamless business operations for corporate EV customers.

Through this program, corporations purchasing Kia EVs will be able to receive charging consulting from Chaebi using the "Kia e-Life Package Biz" program, and they will receive a corporate-exclusive charging solution in three areas: installation of charging infrastructure optimized for corporate customers' charging environments and vehicle operation characteristics, discounts on charging fees, and history management.

"Installation of charging infrastructure" provides installation and operation services for charging stations at garages and employee residences based on a lineup of chargers ranging from 7kW slow charging to 200kW fast charging, all held by Chaebi. Users can choose from free installation, direct purchase, or leasing according to their needs, while dedicated consultants offer one-stop consulting from site assessment to installation work.

"Discounts on charging fees and history management" contribute to reducing corporations' EV operating expenses and allow for real-time management of charging histories. Charging fees can be selected based on the corporation's driving patterns, choosing from garage discounts, subscription plans, or pre-purchase charging credits, and a management page is provided for corporate representatives to easily check charging history (station name, charging amount, charging cost, etc.).

In addition, a dedicated organization operating in various regions and a separate customer center for corporate clients will respond immediately to corporate clients' needs, and various benefits will be provided for Kia corporate customers when visiting Chaebi Stay, a hybrid charging cultural space combining Chaebi's fast charging and commercial facilities, along with "specialized care."

The "Kia e-Life Package Biz" program will be available for pre-registration from Feb. 28 to Mar. 13 through Kia.com and the Kia Members channel, with a formal launch on Mar. 14. Corporate customers who pre-register will be offered either a 30% discount on fast charging fees or a benefit of 500,000 charging credits over a two-month period.

A Kia spokesperson noted, "As the domestic electric vehicle market grows and interest among corporate clients increases, charging solutions specialized for corporate clients have not yet been adequately established." They added, "Based on our top-level charging partnerships in the domestic market, we will provide customized charging solutions to Kia's corporate EV clients, including the PV5, to contribute to cost reduction and improved work efficiency."

[OSEN = Reporter Kang Hee-soo]