Ford Should Be Concerned About the Kia EV6's Charging Speed - Autoblog

[Biker16]

https://www.autoblog.com/features/ford-should-be-concerned-about-the-kia-ev6s-charging-speed

 

T

Quote

he Kia EV6 broke onto the electrified crossover scene for the 2022 model year, and even then, it was one of the top models when it came to range and charging speeds. Since then, Kia’s electric crossover has only gotten better, with varying powertrains that can offer extensive ranges or thrilling performance. While competitors, including the Ford Mustang Mach-E, offer more contention these days, few EVs can match the Kia EV6 when it comes to long-range road trips.

 

Edited July 2 by Biker16

[morgan20]

10 minutes ago, Biker16 said:

https://www.autoblog.com/features/ford-should-be-concerned-about-the-kia-ev6s-charging-speed

 

[Quote] The Kia EV6 broke onto the electrified crossover scene for the 2022 model year, and even then, it was one of the top models when it came to range and charging speeds. Since then, Kia’s electric crossover has only gotten better, with varying powertrains that can offer extensive ranges or thrilling performance. While competitors, including the Ford Mustang Mach-E, offer more contention these days, few EVs can match the Kia EV6 when it comes to long-range road trips.[/quote]

 

I bought a MME GT for my wife recently. We test drove both a 2025 EV6 GT Line AWD and a 2025 Ioniq 5 N Line among others before deciding on the MME.

 

I agree that Ford should be concerned. While we really like our MME, 2025 EV6 and Ioniq 5 are seriously good products. They got a nice refresh for 2025 and have built-in NACS charging port! Ford was the first non-Tesla automaker to announce NACS support, but Hyundai/Kia beat Ford in actually adding NACS port to their EV 😒 

[Motorpsychology]

10 hours ago, morgan20 said:

 

I bought a MME GT for my wife recently. We test drove both a 2025 EV6 GT Line AWD and a 2025 Ioniq 5 N Line among others before deciding on the MME.

 

I agree that Ford should be concerned. While we really like our MME, 2025 EV6 and Ioniq 5 are seriously good products. They got a nice refresh for 2025 and have built-in NACS charging port! Ford was the first non-Tesla automaker to announce NACS support, but Hyundai/Kia beat Ford in actually adding NACS port to their EV 😒 

My neighbor has an EV 6. She's had it a little over a year, and while she enjoys the car overall, she has had the inverter fail twice in that time; currently in the shop. No warning, just no 12v power. The first time it was in the shop for over a month.

[Dequindre]

Yeah, I don't think Ford has much to worry about.

 

https://www.carscoops.com/2025/07/kia-ev-sales-plummet-us-gas-models-soar-2025/

[morgan20]

1 hour ago, Motorpsychology said:

My neighbor has an EV 6. She's had it a little over a year, and while she enjoys the car overall, she has had the inverter fail twice in that time; currently in the shop. No warning, just no 12v power. The first time it was in the shop for over a month.

 

Yea, I know of EV6 and Ioniq 5 owners who also had problems with the ICCU (Integrated Converter Control Unit). Them Koreans redesigned the ICCU for 2025 E-GMP vehicles (increased output density and better thermal management among other changes). Sounds like they finally got this fiasco under control.

[Biker16]

13 hours ago, Dequindre said:

Yeah, I don't think Ford has much to worry about.

 

https://www.carscoops.com/2025/07/kia-ev-sales-plummet-us-gas-models-soar-2025/

I don't think so. I think this has more to do with the market maturing and more EV Options being offered.

EV Market Monitor – May 2025 - Cox Automotive Inc.

 

Quote

n May 2025, the electric vehicle (EV) market displayed a complex mix of growth and challenges. While new EV sales experienced modest monthly gains, year-over-year declines indicated broader industry pressures. Meanwhile, the used EV market continued its upward trajectory, driven by affordability and consumer confidence. Inventory levels, pricing trends and incentive strategies all reflected a market in transition.

 

New EV Sales: New EV sales rose 4.2% month over month in May, reaching 103,435 units and maintaining a 6.9% market share. However, sales were down 10.7% year over year, reflecting ongoing industry challenges and the dynamic nature of an emerging market. May estimates suggest Tesla remained the market leader with 46,150 units sold, a 0.6% month-over-month increase, followed by General Motors, Hyundai Motor Group and Ford. Honda, which launched its first EV in the spring of last year, rounded out the top five.

 

Used EV Sales: The used EV market experienced modest growth in May, with sales increasing 1.1% month over month to 36,609 units, maintaining a 2.2% share of the overall used-vehicle market. Year over year, sales surged 32.1%, reflecting sustained momentum. Tesla led with a 49.6% share. According to our estimates, the best-selling used EVs last month were the Tesla Model 3, Model Y, Model S, Model X and Chevrolet Bolt EV. The used EV market continues to be dominated by Tesla-brand products, but we expect that to shift in the coming years.

 

[Rick73]

Required charge  time from 10 to 80 percent battery SOC is one data point for comparison, but since they are talking about importance of fast charging during long trips, it’s probably more important to consider how far the vehicle will drive at highway speeds for that given amount of charge time.

 

IMO expressing rate in kW, or percent battery capacity, is not as meaningful as MPH.  An older base Tesla Model 3, as example, could gain +/- 500 MPH (miles of highway range per hour of charging), and the newer Model 3s much better than that.  Just saying it’s not about how many kWh you get in a given time, but also how far they will take you in actual highway driving.

[morgan20]

14 hours ago, Dequindre said:

Yeah, I don't think Ford has much to worry about.

 

https://www.carscoops.com/2025/07/kia-ev-sales-plummet-us-gas-models-soar-2025/

 

Kia’s EV9 and EV6 sales dropped nearly 50 percent in the first half of 2025 because those models underwent a shift in production location from South Korea to the Kia plant in western Georgia. It took some time to revamp the plant for EV

[Biker16]

1 hour ago, morgan20 said:

 

Kia’s EV9 and EV6 sales dropped nearly 50 percent in the first half of 2025 because those models underwent a shift in production location from South Korea to the Kia plant in western Georgia. It took some time to revamp the plant for EV

 

Yep

 

Hyundai is selling more vehicles in the US than ever as new American-made EVs arrive

 

 

 

 

[morgan20]

45 minutes ago, Biker16 said:

 

Yep

 

Hyundai is selling more vehicles in the US than ever as new American-made EVs arrive

 

 

Ford's head honcho said many times that he's really concerned about them Chinese automakers. Should he pay more attention to the rise of Hyundai/Kia in the U.S. EV market?

[Rick73]

19 hours ago, morgan20 said:

 

Ford's head honcho said many times that he's really concerned about them Chinese automakers. Should he pay more attention to the rise of Hyundai/Kia in the U.S. EV market?

Car and Driver considers Hyundai and Kia EV sales in 2025 under loser category, so probably nothing specific to worry about, other than just being competition.  Like Ford their non-EV sales did much better.
 

https://www.caranddriver.com/news/g65277687/auto-sales-q2-2025-winners-losers/

 

 

Regarding China threat, IMO much depends on government intervention.  Without tariffs or other hurdles, Chinese could build a plant in US and sell entry-level affordable cars that may be successful.  It will be interesting to follow how the BYD Dolphin Mini does in Brazil, and also who in their population ends up buying them.  Will it be mostly low income, or young, or environmentalists-minded, or will it appeal to a broad segment of society for other reasons?

 

[morgan20]

13 hours ago, Rick73 said:

Car and Driver considers Hyundai and Kia EV sales in 2025 under loser category, so probably nothing specific to worry about, other than just being competition.  

 

As mentioned earlier, the Hyundai/Kia EV sales loser categorization is due to shifts in production from South Korea to the U.S. for 2025 EV6, EV9, and Ioniq 5. They didn't import Korean built versions of the 2025 models to the U.S. while ramping up production at their two plants in Georgia, causing sales to drop as remaining 2024 models sold out. 

 

Hyundai/Kia should see sales growth for their EV in the second half of the year

[Rick73]

8 hours ago, morgan20 said:

 

As mentioned earlier, the Hyundai/Kia EV sales loser categorization is due to shifts in production from South Korea to the U.S. for 2025 EV6, EV9, and Ioniq 5. They didn't import Korean built versions of the 2025 models to the U.S. while ramping up production at their two plants in Georgia, causing sales to drop as remaining 2024 models sold out. 

 

Hyundai/Kia should see sales growth for their EV in the second half of the year

You may be 100% correct, but just because two events occur sequentially doesn’t necessarily mean there is causality.  Companies spin information every which way they think will benefit them best, so it’s hard to know for sure.  Obviously Hyundai at some point in time must have thought there was demand or they wouldn’t have committed the necessary investment.  On the other hand it’s likely that shifting production to US took some time, so even if sales suddenly dropped 50% for unrelated reasons, reversing direction may have not been an option.  I hope you’re right and that sales bounce back in second half.  My concern is that general EV ownership sentiments have been shifting.

[morgan20]

45 minutes ago, Rick73 said:

 I hope you’re right and that sales bounce back in second half.  My concern is that general EV ownership sentiments have been shifting.

 

Thanks my friend. While my wife and I like the EV6 and Ioniq 5 a lot, as you know we ended gettin' a MME GT instead. My concerns are: 

1. Ford's big shots ain't sufficiently concerned that Hyundai/Kia E-GMP models, already among the best in class when introduced in 2022, keep getting better. Better in many ways, not just charging speed
2. The lack of new EV in Ford's U.S. vehicle lineup between the time I bought my F-150 Lightning in 2022 and my wife's MME GT last month
3. More talk than tangible products or processes comin' out of Ford's skunkworks and the new low cost EV platform at this point 

[akirby]

I don’t think Ford needs to be overly concerned about specific competitors.  They need to focus on keeping costs as low as possible with appealing designs similar to what they did with Maverick and Bronco Sport.  What works for one company may not work as well for another due to differences in infrastructure costs, intellectual property, factory capacity and market appeal.

 

I’m ok with skunkworks taking longer IF the end result is as good as Ford has touted in cost, design and performance.  If it ends up just being average in any of those areas it will be a swing and a miss - again.

[Biker16]

20 minutes ago, akirby said:

I don’t think Ford needs to be overly concerned about specific competitors.  They need to focus on keeping costs as low as possible with appealing designs similar to what they did with Maverick and Bronco Sport.  What works for one company may not work as well for another due to differences in infrastructure costs, intellectual property, factory capacity and market appeal.

 

I’m ok with skunkworks taking longer IF the end result is as good as Ford has touted in cost, design and performance.  If it ends up just being average in any of those areas it will be a swing and a miss - again.

 

My question is can Ford deliver on what they are promising. I remember the promises made in past that didn't pan out, how will this be different.

[akirby]

2 hours ago, Biker16 said:

 

My question is can Ford deliver on what they are promising. I remember the promises made in past that didn't pan out, how will this be different.

Because they hired a lot of outside talent from Tesla, Luckd, Rivian and Apple.  These aren’t typical Ford engineers.

[Rick73]

2 hours ago, Biker16 said:

 

My question is can Ford deliver on what they are promising. I remember the promises made in past that didn't pan out, how will this be different.

Yeah, a good idea to temper expectations.  IIRC Farley mentioned skunkworks team was very successful in lowering R&D costs (30 cents on the dollar), but I don’t recall much detail suggesting the new vehicles would be that much cheaper than competition.

[twintornados]

On 7/5/2025 at 1:41 PM, Biker16 said:

 

My question is can Ford deliver on what they are promising. I remember the promises made in past that didn't pan out, how will this be different.

 

Well, they can start with factory install of NACS connector so customers can use Superchargers without an adapter....seeing as Ford was the first OEM through the gate to join the NACS revolution....are they waiting for a mid-cycle refresh to do it?

Edited Monday at 11:47 AM by twintornados

[fordmantpw]

33 minutes ago, twintornados said:

 

Well, they can start with factory install of NACS connector so customers can use Superchargers without an adapter....seeing as Ford was the first OEM through the gate to join the NACS revolution....are they waiting for a mid-cycle refresh to do it?

 

Agreed, but as someone who has used a Supercharger WITH an adapter, it's not a big deal.

[rmc523]

On 7/5/2025 at 1:15 PM, akirby said:

I don’t think Ford needs to be overly concerned about specific competitors.  They need to focus on keeping costs as low as possible with appealing designs similar to what they did with Maverick and Bronco Sport.  What works for one company may not work as well for another due to differences in infrastructure costs, intellectual property, factory capacity and market appeal.

 

I’m ok with skunkworks taking longer IF the end result is as good as Ford has touted in cost, design and performance.  If it ends up just being average in any of those areas it will be a swing and a miss - again.

 

At a certain point, though, how much longer is longer?   It's been many years at this point and we're still a couple of years away from anything showing up on lots.

 

I get wanting the product to be the best out of the gate, but that's if it ever gets to market, and with tech always shifting, there'll always be a better thing, so do you perpetually keep pushing it back?  At some point, it needs to launch.

[Sherminator98]

36 minutes ago, rmc523 said:

 

At a certain point, though, how much longer is longer?   It's been many years at this point and we're still a couple of years away from anything showing up on lots.

 

I get wanting the product to be the best out of the gate, but that's if it ever gets to market, and with tech always shifting, there'll always be a better thing, so do you perpetually keep pushing it back?  At some point, it needs to launch.

 

From what I can find, the skunkworks EV project started in 2022 sometime, was reported for the first time in 2024...so 5 years for a completely new platform and way of doing business designing it, isn't completely abnormal for the industry. 

[rmc523]

1 hour ago, Sherminator98 said:

 

From what I can find, the skunkworks EV project started in 2022 sometime, was reported for the first time in 2024...so 5 years for a completely new platform and way of doing business designing it, isn't completely abnormal for the industry. 

 

I suppose that's true.  Just feels like forever that we've heard about it now.

I guess what's also creating the issue is that they cancelled or pushed back refreshes several long time products that makes the product lull seem worse.

[Sherminator98]

1 hour ago, rmc523 said:

I guess what's also creating the issue is that they cancelled or pushed back refreshes several long time products that makes the product lull seem worse.

 

That I agree with...it seems like they have next to nothing coming out in the next 36 months. 

[morgan20]

5 hours ago, fordmantpw said:

 

Agreed, but as someone who has used a Supercharger WITH an adapter, it's not a big deal.

 

Yea, I have an adapter for both my F-150 Lightning (complimentary from Ford) and my wife's MME GT ($200 extra). While it's not a big deal to use the adapter, a built-in NACS port for the vehicle is better, and as twintornados mentioned Ford was the first OEM through the gate to join the NACS revolution. 

 

Yet Hyundai/Kia has built-in NACS port on several EV now while Ford customers are still waitin'