Kia’s EV van is about to go on patrol with AI cameras and drones

Kia’s electric van can do it all. The AI Patrol PV5 will hit the road later this year, equipped with custom AI cameras and drones.

Meet the Kia AI Patrol PV5 electric van

The PV5 is Kia’s first all-electric van from its Platform Beyond Vehicle business. Based on the modular E-GMP.S platform, the PV5 is available in several shapes and forms.

Aside from the standard Passenger, Cargo, and Chassis Cab variants, Kia announced during its PV5 tech day event last year plans to introduce at least seven body types, including Open Bed (like a pickup), Refrigerated Box Truck, Luxury, and even Light Camper configurations.

Now, Kia is partnering with the Korean National Police Agency to create a custom PV5 patrol vehicle. The “AI Patrol PV5” will begin pilot operations, starting in June 2026.

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While Kia didn’t reveal all the details just yet, it did say the electric patrol van will be equipped with AI cameras, a roof-mounted drone, custom lights, police badges, and more.

The 4K AI cameras, located on the front and rear of the vehicle, use AI to detect dangerous situations and automatically alert the driver.

For example, the AI-based camera system can identify guns, knives, bats, and other weapons, as well as emergency situations in which someone collapses or faints. It can also detect fires or smoke. Check out the video below to see how it works in action.

And don’t even try to run from it. The electric patrol van is equipped with a roof-mounted drone for ground surveillance, while the docking station charges it on the go. That’s not even the best part. The drones are equipped with advanced thermal imaging cameras with 90X zoom that can track those on the run and read license plates.

Kia will begin trial operations with the Korean National Police Agency in June, during which the electric van will be tested in real-world conditions.

What’s next? An AI PV5 ambulance or firetruck? We’ll see.