A California-born startup that got its start in New Zealand just landed one of its biggest deals yet. VanLab, known for flat-pack camper conversion kits that you assemble yourself, has officially partnered with Kia to bring a camper kit to the all-electric PV5 van. The kit launched in South Korea as an official “Kia Collection” product, and it’s already making waves in the growing van life community.
- VanLab, a US startup that specializes in affordable campervan conversions, created the first conversion kit for the PV5 Passenger.
- The PV5 camper conversion kit is available in Korea for 2,990,000 won, which comes out to roughly $2,000.
- VanLab said the kit will be available in Japan, Europe, and the UK shortly.
What’s Inside the VanLab PV5 Camper Kit
If you’ve ever built IKEA furniture, you already have the skills for this project. VanLab’s conversion kits are designed to be assembled in minutes with a screwdriver. The PV5 kit packs in way more than a simple bed platform, though. It includes an entire dinette and lounge setup built on a base wooden platform that creates a flush surface inside the van. Along the sides, VanLab adds two opposing benches with cushions and backrests, and underneath each bench, you’ll find cooking tools and storage systems.
The flat-pack kit creates a versatile interior layout with a vis-à-vis bench lounge, removable swivel table, and convertible double bed, while also including outdoor dining features like slide-out benches and a multi-positional table. The kits include a full bed, an outdoor kitchen with an induction cooktop, drawers, and counter space for cooking.
One of the coolest parts? With Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) capabilities, Kia’s electric van can supply power to the electric hot plate and refrigerator. That means you’re cooking and keeping food cold on electric power from the van itself. No gas canisters needed. And the benches can be easily removed if you need to free up space in the rear of your Kia.
How This Partnership Came Together
VanLab worked closely with Hyundai CRADLE Silicon Valley and Kia to see how the kit designs could turn vehicles into an office, dining room, or even a lounge for PV5 owners. VanLab was selected through the PBV Open Innovation Challenge for its vision of modular vehicle living.
VanLab grew up in California but was born in New Zealand, where the company first started building flat-pack camper conversion kits. Co-founder Andy Jones sold VanLab New Zealand, and in 2019, he and co-founder Ian Fitzhenry started fresh in the US to sell kits nationwide. The company now builds kits for everything from Nissan NV200s and Ford Transits to Jeep Grand Cherokees and Land Rovers.
The PV5 kit was launched in Korea as an official “Kia Collection” product and is available online through the Kia Shop website. It’s available to order now in South Korea, with deliveries planned to begin in March 2026.
The PV5 Is a Natural Fit for Camping
Why the PV5? For starters, this van was practically built for this kind of thing. The Kia PV5 is an all-electric, configurable van with crew van, box van, refrigerated truck, and camper variants on the way. It gets a 161-horsepower motor and a maximum range of 248 miles. The boxy shape of the PV5 makes it a perfect candidate for a camper kit, and one that isn’t so difficult to design, integrate, and use.
The PV5 is already picking up industry praise. Kia’s first-ever EV van has been announced as the winner of the 2026 International Van of the Year. The PV5 still seats five and fits 3,615 liters of cargo. It packs 161 horsepower and can travel up to 358 km on one charge.
The Kia PV5 features a Lego-like modular construction, so there’s a lot you can do with it. It will go on to spawn many variants, and if none of them work for you, you can also have it as a bare chassis cab.
Will the Kit Come to the US?
That’s the big question. Kia has yet to confirm whether the PV5 will launch in the US. A PV5 Passenger model was spotted in Ann Arbor, Michigan, earlier this month with side marker lights, a US requirement, hinting the electric van could still make its way to the States.
The PV5 kits are only available through Kia, and possibly even manufactured in Korea, but that means VanLab can strike a similar deal with other countries. A rollout in Japan, Europe, and the UK is expected shortly after the Korean launch.
For American van life fans, VanLab’s existing lineup still covers dozens of popular vehicles. VanLab created America’s first-ever van-conversion flat-pack assembly kit, shipped directly to your door nationwide. So even without the PV5, there’s plenty to work with.
A $2,100 Ticket to Electric Van Life
With the PV5 winning awards and VanLab spreading its kits around the globe, this partnership looks like the beginning of something fun for anyone who loves camping and Kia electric vehicles. A PV5 kit selling for roughly $2,100 makes the barrier to entry pretty low, and if Kia brings the van stateside, expect a lot of happy campers. Keep an eye on VanLab’s lineup in the meantime, because these kits aren’t slowing down anytime soon.