Released through Kia’s official accessory channel in South Korea, the PV5 conversion kit reflects growing demand for vehicles that can quickly shift between commuting, remote work, and recreation.
VanLab has launched what it calls the first-ever camping kit designed specifically for the Kia PV5 Passenger, marking an unusual collaboration between a flatpack DIY camper conversion company and a major automaker’s official product ecosystem. The kit has been released in South Korea as part of the “Kia Collection” and is available through the Kia Shop, positioning it less as an aftermarket experiment and more as a mainstream lifestyle add-on. For VanLab, it represents a step toward making modular camper conversions accessible to everyday drivers rather than niche enthusiasts.
The appeal is rooted in flexibility. The kit is built around a modular design that allows PV5 owners to convert their vehicle from daily transport into a sleeping and living setup in minutes, with features such as a convertible double bed, adjustable table system, and pull-out tailgate seating. The design also keeps the second-row seats intact, maintaining passenger capacity for five while still enabling a camping layout. That combination speaks to a growing consumer expectation that vehicles—especially electric ones—should function as adaptable spaces rather than single-purpose machines.
One of the more notable elements is the way the kit leverages Kia’s Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) capability, allowing owners to plug in devices for work or cooking. VanLab describes the kit as “remote work ready,” with the ability to power electrical equipment like induction cooktops or refrigerators. As more electric vehicles arrive with built-in power delivery features, products like this suggest how EV ownership may increasingly blur the line between transportation and portable infrastructure.
The kit was developed in collaboration with Kia and Hyundai CRADLE Silicon Valley, which selected VanLab through the PBV Open Innovation Challenge. That partnership hints at how automakers are using startups to explore new interior concepts, particularly as the industry anticipates future shifts such as autonomous driving and more flexible cabin design. In this framing, the PV5 becomes less about driving performance and more about how its interior can serve changing lifestyles.
For now, availability is tied to Kia’s distribution channels in South Korea through a partnership with Auto&, with Japan, Europe, and the UK expected to follow. Whether the PV5 will launch in the U.S. remains uncertain, but the kit’s rollout suggests that the “camping van” market may be evolving into something broader: a modular, electric-ready category built for workdays as much as weekends.
