Kia EV4 and PV5 Earn Recognition with HMG’s Mobile Robot Platform MobED at 2026 Red Dot Design Award
- HMG Newsroom
- 2026.05.20 (KST)
- 분량7min
- 조회수 3,506Views
- Kia EV4 awarded 'Best of the Best', underscoring Kia’s design innovation
- Kia PV5 named 'Winner', highlighting flexible and user-centric PBV design
- Recognition reinforces Kia's global design leadership and 'Opposites United' design philosophy
(SEOUL) May 20, 2026 – Kia Corporation has earned top honors at the Red Dot Award: Product Design 2026, with the Kia EV4 receiving the competition’s highest distinction, ‘Best of the Best,’ and the Kia PV5 recognized with a ‘Winner’ award, while Hyundai Motor Group’s mobile robot platform, MobED was also named a ‘Winner.’
This achievement reinforces Kia’s global design leadership and reflects the continued impact of its ‘Opposites United’ design philosophy in delivering innovative, user-centered, and sustainable mobility solutions.
“It is an honor for Kia to once again be recognized by the Red Dot Design Award, especially with the EV4 achieving the highest distinction,” said Karim Habib, Executive Vice President and Head of Kia Global Design. “These awards reflect the impact of our ‘Opposites United’ philosophy in shaping mobility solutions that are both relevant and meaningful, delivering intuitive and seamless experiences for our users. From the EV4’s bold reinterpretation of the sedan to the PV5’s flexible, user-centered approach to PBV design, both vehicles demonstrate Kia’s commitment to bringing together emotional appeal with everyday practicality.”
Why was the Kia EV4 named ‘Best of the Best’?
The Kia EV4 was recognized for its bold, innovative approach to sedan design, introducing a new typology to the traditional segment. Developed under Kia’s ‘Opposites United’ design philosophy, the EV4 features a striking fastback silhouette that challenges conventions, while the hatchback variant further enhances versatility by combining compact, dynamic proportions with practicality tailored to meet the needs of European customers.
How does the Kia PV5 demonstrate Kia’s PBV design strategy?
The Kia PV5, recipient of a ‘Winner’ award, showcases Kia’s forward-looking Platform Beyond Vehicle (PBV) strategy and its modular design approach.
It features a shared front-end design paired with flexible rear modules that can be adapted for various use cases. The lineup includes Passenger, Cargo, WAV (Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle) and Crew models – each designed to deliver optimized space, practicality and usability while maintaining a consistent design identity. The recognition adds to the PV5’s growing list of achievements, following its recent Gold award at the 2026 iF Design Awards.
Kia’s ongoing Red Dot success
Kia’s consistent performance at global design competitions reflects the strength of its long-term design strategy. Its Red Dot Award: ‘Best of the Best’ winners now include: EV6 (2022), EV9 (2024), EV3 (2025), and EV4 (2026).
What Makes HMG’s MobED a Red Dot Award Winner?
Developed by Hyundai Motor Group’s Robotics LAB, MobED (Mobile Eccentric Droid) is a mobile robot platform designed to operate across diverse terrains and applications. MobED embodies Robotics LAB’s ‘Refined Edge’ design philosophy – an approach focused on continuously advancing how robots integrate into everyday human environments. This design identity not only shapes the platform’s distinctive form but also guides its interactions, reinforcing trust and approachability in human-centered spaces.
It integrates proprietary Drive and Lift (DnL) technology and an Eccentric Wheel mechanism, enabling stable movement over uneven surfaces, inclines, and curbs. The platform combines functional, purpose-driven design with AI-based control systems to deliver adaptable mobility in a wide range of environments.
The Red Dot recognition highlights the platform’s balance of innovative engineering and functional design, demonstrating how mobility solutions are expanding beyond traditional vehicle formats.
MobED is a next-generation mobility platform designed for advanced adaptability and scalability. First revealed as a concept at CES 2022, the production model was introduced in 2025.
About the Red Dot Award
Established in 1955, the Red Dot Award is organized by Germany’s Design Zentrum Nordrhein Westfalen and is one of the world’s most prestigious design competitions. Judged by an independent panel of international experts, the award recognizes excellence in product design, brand and communication design, and design concepts based on criteria including innovation, functionality and quality. The ‘Best of the Best’ is the competition’s highest honor, awarded only to the most groundbreaking and innovative designs.
