While Kia is accelerating its market leadership by unveiling the PV7 following its first dedicated Purpose-Built Vehicle (PBV), the 'PV5', the core innovative value it promoted—'frequent module replacement'—remains submerged due to regulatory constraints and economic viability challenges.
According to industry sources on the 17th, Kia's 'Easy Swap' technology, which enables the detachment and attachment of vehicle body modules, has not been realized in actual mass-produced models.
Earlier, at 'CES 2024' in January 2024, Kia showcased the Easy Swap technology, allowing the 'Life Module' behind the driver's seat to be easily swapped. The concept aimed to maximize vehicle utilization by using a single vehicle for cargo delivery during the day and as a passenger shuttle or business lounge at night.
However, the current Motor Vehicle Management Act fundamentally prohibits 'multi-purpose flexible operations'. The law strictly categorizes vehicles into five types—passenger, commercial, cargo, special-purpose, and two-wheeled—and mandates that only one purpose be selected at the time of registration.
If registered as a cargo vehicle, passenger transportation for profit is prohibited, and each module change requires a complex structural modification (tuning) approval. Automakers also face institutional limitations, forcing them to prioritize fixed-purpose models like 'Cargo' and 'Passenger' in the mass-production phase, rather than adopting frequent module replacement.
Kia emphasized that institutional improvements, as well as technological implementation and market viability, are crucial. A Kia representative stated, “Easy Swap is a demonstration of future innovative technology, and the economic feasibility and technical readiness for commercialization are not yet complete.”
Consequently, the government's institutional improvement efforts have also slowed. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport had pointed out the commercialization limitations of passenger-cargo PBVs in the 2021 inter-ministerial 'Autonomous Vehicle Regulatory Innovation Roadmap 2.0' and announced plans to revise the enforcement rules of the Motor Vehicle Management Act by 2026. However, with no visible mass-production demand, institutional adjustments have stalled.
A Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport official said, “The revision of the enforcement rules of the Motor Vehicle Management Act related to flexible vehicle classification is not currently underway. Institutional improvements require further review, considering the actual market situation.”
In response, the automotive industry stressed that while companies advance commercialization, the government must not delay preparatory legal reforms. An industry insider noted, “While technological maturity and profitability reviews are necessary, the lack of institutional infrastructure could delay market entry even after technology is perfected, due to outdated regulations. To keep pace with global mobility competition, mid- to long-term legal flexibility, such as the creation of multi-purpose vehicle categories, should be prepared in advance.”
