Kia has picked up major honours at the 2026 Red Dot Design Awards, with the upcoming Kia EV4 receiving the competition’s highest ‘Best of the Best’ distinction, while the Kia PV5 and Hyundai Motor Group’s MobED robotic mobility platform were both named ‘Winners’.
The awards continue Kia’s strong run at international design competitions and reinforce the company’s growing emphasis on electric vehicles, modular mobility solutions and future-focused product design, areas that are becoming increasingly relevant in Australia as buyers shift toward EVs and commercial electrification. According to Kia, the recognition reflects the company’s ongoing use of its ‘Opposites United’ design philosophy, which blends emotional styling with practicality and user-focused functionality.
Read more: 2026 Kia EV4 sedan priced for Australia
Kia EV4 recognised for redefining sedan design
The Kia EV4 earned the top award for its reinterpretation of the traditional sedan format. Kia says the model introduces a more progressive design approach through its fastback-inspired silhouette, while also offering a hatchback variant aimed at improving practicality and versatility.
The Kia EV4 forms part of Kia’s expanding EV portfolio that already includes the Kia EV6 and Kia EV9. While Australian timing for the Kia EV4 has yet to be fully detailed, the vehicle is expected to play a role in Kia’s broader EV push locally as demand for more affordable electric passenger cars grows.
Kia Global Design head Karim Habib said the award reflects the company’s focus on creating mobility solutions that combine emotional appeal with day-to-day usability. The Kia EV4 now joins previous Kia ‘Best of the Best’ winners including the EV6 in 2022, EV9 in 2024 and EV3 in 2025.
Kia PV5 highlights modular commercial EV strategy
Kia’s PV5 was recognised with a ‘Winner’ award for its flexible and modular approach to commercial electric mobility under the brand’s Platform Beyond Vehicle (PBV) strategy. The Kia PV5 range has been designed with interchangeable rear body sections to support multiple use cases, including Passenger, Cargo, Crew and Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle (WAV) configurations.
This type of adaptable EV architecture could become increasingly significant in Australia, particularly for delivery fleets, rideshare operators and mobility services transitioning toward electrification. Kia says the PV5 shares a common front-end design across variants while allowing different rear modules to maximise usability and cabin space. The award follows the PV5’s earlier success at the 2026 iF Design Awards, where it received a Gold award.
Read more: Kia EV4 earns 5-star ANCAP safety score
Hyundai MobED platform recognised for robotics innovation
Alongside Kia’s vehicle awards, Hyundai Motor Group’s Robotics LAB also secured a Red Dot ‘Winner’ award for the MobED (Mobile Eccentric Droid) platform. The MobED platform is designed to travel across uneven terrain using Hyundai’s proprietary Drive and Lift technology combined with an eccentric wheel mechanism that allows the platform to maintain stability over curbs, slopes and rough surfaces.
Originally revealed as a concept at Consumer Electronics Show 2022, the production version of MobED was introduced in 2025. Hyundai says the platform is intended for a wide range of applications beyond traditional vehicles, highlighting how future mobility technologies are increasingly expanding into robotics and AI-assisted transportation systems.
Established in 1955, the Red Dot Design Award is regarded as one of the world’s leading design competitions, with entries judged on innovation, functionality and overall product quality.
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