The Kia EV9 has scored big, clinching the prestigious Gold trophy at the 2024 International Design Excellence Awards (IDEA), presented by the Industrial Designers Society of America (IDSA). This win is a historic first for Kia, marking their inaugural Gold IDEA award and the completion of a remarkable trifecta, following the EV9’s previous victories at both the Red Dot ‘Best of Best’ and iF Design Gold awards earlier this year.
The award, which honors the evocation of excellence in the Automotive and Transportation category, was presented during a ceremony held on September 12 at the Palmer Events Center in Austin, Texas. This accolade cements the EV9’s reputation for outstanding design and originality, reflecting Kia’s dynamic ‘Opposites United’ philosophy, which aims to blend contrasting values into a cohesive and innovative whole.
Karim Habib, Kia’s Executive Vice President and Head of Global Design, shared his excitement, stating, “At Kia, we are committed to designing not just vehicles, but inspiring, authentic products that resonate with our customers’ emotional and practical needs. The EV9 is a testament to our belief that good design bridges the relationship between users, our products, and our brand. Receiving recognition from esteemed bodies such as the Red Dot, iF Design Awards, and now the Gold at IDEA is enormously rewarding, motivating us to relentlessly pursue innovative, sustainable mobility solutions.”
The EV9 embodies the ‘Opposites United’ philosophy, striking a balance between nature and modernity to create a vehicle with a unique personality that challenges convention. The design team has leveraged this ethos to conceive an electric SUV that not only stands out visually but also excels in usability, connectivity, and environmental consciousness.
With its defined lines and sleek surfaces, the EV9 presents a striking profile enhanced by features like the Digital Tiger Face, Digital Pattern Lighting Grille, and distinctive vertical headlamps. These elements contribute to the EV9’s futuristic allure, which has captivated the attention of judges across major global design competitions.
Celebrating its 44th anniversary, the IDEA awards are known for their focus on spotting and honoring the top tier of design ingenuity, remaining largely untouched by fleeting trends. The EV9’s Gold accolade is especially notable, as it comes seven years after the Kia Telluride Concept received Bronze at IDEA 2017.
As a flagship model, the EV9 represents Kia’s dedication to not just maintaining but leading in global sustainable mobility initiatives. This all-electric, seven-seat SUV was pioneering in integrating Kia’s 10 ‘must-have’ sustainable items, ingredients that all newer models will now feature, showcasing the brand’s commitment to using natural and bio-based materials.
Since its debut in 2023, the EV9 has garnered significant acclaim not just for its ilk but also for its broad market appeal. In addition to its accolades from Red Dot, iF Design, and IDEA, the EV9 triumphed in two categories at the World Car Awards 2024, earning titles of ‘World Car of the Year’ and ‘World Electric Vehicle’.
Kia’s EV9 is undoubtedly leading the charge towards a future defined by clean, sustainable mobility—one design accolade at a time.
