The humble delivery van has come a long way. Kia’s PV5, until recently best known as a versatile electric workhorse, has been seconded into law enforcement. The company has signed on with the Korean National Police Agency to build a high-tech, AI-equipped patrol vehicle that also happens to carry a drone.

Visually, the PV5 already looks the part with its futuristic LEDs and sleek surfacing. For its new role, it wears a police livery with blue and yellow graphics over its black and white bodywork. The biggest party trick, though, is the roof extension housing an integrated drone station.

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When the PV5 pulls up to a scene, a section of the roof opens and an automated AI police drone takes flight. It handles aerial patrol in tight alleys and hazardous areas, the sort of places where the van itself, and indeed the officers, cannot or should not go.

The drone carries thermal imaging and a 90x zoom camera, useful kit for tracking suspects or finding missing persons. Once the job is done, it flies back to its dock and recharges using the van’s V2L system. As for the PV5 itself, no changes have been reported to the battery or electric powertrain.

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The roof structure also carries three AI-powered cameras providing 360-degree coverage with no blind spots. The software is clever enough to identify suspects by clothing or accessories, working through a crowd in real time and flagging up potential matches.

The AI can also detect specific threats like weapon-carrying individuals or injured citizens who may have fallen on the ground. It even includes crowd density monitoring to alert authorities for potential overcapacity risks in public spaces.

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The police-prepped Kia PV5 is scheduled to begin pilot operations in June 2026. It will be part of the Metropolitan Preventive Patrol Unit of the South Korean police force, focused on crime prevention and rapid response.

While this particular AI patrol vehicle is exclusive to Korea, it will be interesting to see whether the PV5 will serve as a base for police conversions in other parts of the world.

After more than two decades of soldiering on through countless updates, Japan’s most familiar workhorse is finally getting a proper rethink. The Toyota HiAce remains one of the world’s most popular commercial vehicles, but the current H200 generation has been on sale in Japan since 2004, making a strong case for a successor. A new model is rumored to debut by early next year, marking the biggest change in the nameplate’s history.

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In 2019, Toyota introduced the H300 generation of the HiAce, though Japan stuck to the older cabover H200 van. The latter has received countless model year updates over the past 22 years, but it is inevitably getting closer to retirement.

What Will The Next HiAce Look Like?

The Toyota HiAce Concepts that debuted at the 2025 Japan Mobility Show are the best indication of the next generation model, which will finally give Japanese buyers access to a modern Toyota light commercial vehicle (LCV).

One of the concepts features a long-wheelbase, high-roof bodystyle, while the other is a standard van. Both have modern LEDs and clean surfacing inspired by the 2023 Toyota Kayoibako concept. Crucially, while the new HiAce will abandon the cab-over styling of the H200, it will have a shorter hood than the H300, making it more suitable for the tight roads of Japan.

Illustration: Thanos Pappas for CarScoops

Our exclusive rendering previews the upcoming production-spec HiAce as a white commercial van with a high roof and a long wheelbase, riding on black steelies. The narrow side windows of the concepts will likely be reserved for passenger-oriented trims, while the lighting units might gain simpler LED graphics for cost-saving reasons.

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Toyota will most likely offer several bodystyle variants of the LCV, following the example of the current HiAce, which is available in different widths, heights, and lengths. It is safe to assume the new model will also serve as a base for passenger shuttles and even camper conversions.

Furthermore, the lineup will be joined by a smaller van based on the Daihatsu Kayoibako-K concept, designed for urban deliveries and short camping adventures.

TNGA Platform Brings Big Changes

2025 Toyota HiAce Concepts

Local media reports suggest the new HiAce will share components with the H300 generation currently sold in markets such as the Philippines, Thailand, and Australia. The LCV is expected to ride on the TNGA platform, with improvements in safety and ride quality over the aging H200.

Besides switching from a mid-engined to a front-engined layout, the HiAce will reportedly introduce a self-charging hybrid powertrain option. This will likely be more powerful and more efficient than the existing diesel and gasoline engines.

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As hinted at by the Global HiAce BEV concept from 2023, a fully electric version of the LCV was under consideration. However, the latest rumors suggest the zero-emission powertrain has been put on hold due to shifting market conditions.

According to Creative Trend, citing information from local agency Apollo News Service, the new generation of the HiAce is expected to debut in late 2026 or early 2027. We will keep an eye out for more information about the popular van and update this story accordingly.

Hydrogen mobility might not be moving forward as quickly as expected in passenger cars, but it still has clear promise in the commercial space. The latest move comes from Isuzu and Toyota, which have teamed up to develop Japan’s first mass-produced light-duty fuel-cell electric truck, expected to reach the road within the next two years.

This won’t be a ground-up rethink. Instead, it rides on the familiar ladder-frame chassis of the Isuzu Elf EV. The electric Elf, known globally as the N-Series, arrived in 2023 with modular 20 kWh battery packs, scaling from 40 to 180 kWh depending on spec.

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The real story sits under the skin. Toyota’s upcoming third-generation fuel-cell system takes center stage here, bringing a claimed 20% improvement in efficiency over the current setup. It is also expected to last longer and cope better with hard use, which matters when your daily routine involves stop-start urban logistics or hauling refrigerated goods across a city.

Why Hydrogen?

One of the primary drivers behind this FCEV project is the inherent limitation of battery-electric trucks in certain commercial roles. Light-duty trucks used for supermarket and convenience store deliveries often require heavy refrigeration equipment that drains battery power quickly. Furthermore, the long charging times associated with large battery packs can disrupt tight delivery schedules.

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Hydrogen refueling, which takes roughly the same amount of time as diesel, offers a more seamless transition for fleet operators, while offering an extended driving range. At the same time, an FCEV truck produces much fewer vibrations and noise compared to a diesel-powered equivalent, while having zero CO2 emissions.

Reducing Costs Is The Key

The sticking point remains cost. Fuel-cell vehicles are still expensive, and hydrogen infrastructure is far from widespread. Isuzu and Toyota say the answer lies in smarter engineering, from optimizing the vehicle structure to rethinking manufacturing processes, alongside continued development of the fuel-cell system itself.

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Production of the light-duty fuel cell truck is scheduled to start in the Japanese fiscal year 2027, which ends on March 30, 2028.

This isn’t the first time the two companies have worked together on hydrogen. Isuzu and Toyota are already collaborating on the ERGA FCV, an urban flat-floor bus with hydrogen tanks integrated on its roof structure.

Stellantis is broadening its lineup with a slightly left-field addition, rolling out a last-mile delivery vehicle for Europe through its Leapmotor joint venture, based on the tiny T03. Its compact footprint makes it well suited to the cramped streets of Europe’s city centers, backed by a zero-emission powertrain and pricing pitched to keep fleet buyers interested.

As with most LCV conversions of existing models, the T03 has been reworked into a two-seat van. The rear bench is gone, replaced by a 657 lt (23.2 cubic feet) cargo area. Access comes via the tailgate and rear doors, though the openings are predictably tight.

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Payload is less convincing. It is rated at just 220 kg (485 lbs), which limits what it can realistically carry. Then again, this is more about parcels and city drops than shifting bags of cement, so for its intended job, it may be enough.

Inside, it’s better equipped than you’d expect from something pitched at delivery duty. You get an 8-inch digital instrument cluster, a 10.1-inch infotainment touchscreen, and a full suite of ADAS features.

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On the outside, the five-door hatchback is unchanged from the standard Leapmotor T03, measuring 3,620 mm (142.5 inches) long. The LCV version sets itself apart with 15-inch steel wheels finished in black, while the color choices are limited to Caribbean Blue, Light White, and Canopy Grey.

Power comes from a single electric motor producing 95 hp (70 kW) and 158 Nm (116.5 lb-ft) of torque, identical to the passenger model. A 37.3 kWh battery delivers up to 256 km (159 miles) of WLTP range, with support for 45 kW DC fast charging.

According to Stellantis, “production finalization” for European markets will take place at the Mirafiori plant in Turin. In reality, that likely means the LCV conversion is handled there, as the Leapmotor T03 itself continues to be built in Jinhua, China, after plans for production at the Tychy plant in Poland were quietly dropped.

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Orders for the Leapmotor T03 LCV will open in select EU markets later this month, with the first deliveries expected to land this summer.

Pricing starts at €14,590 ($17,100) excluding VAT, putting it among the most affordable commercial vehicles on sale in Europe. Stellantis is not new to the small EV game either, already offering an LCV version of the even smaller Citroen Ami heavy quadricycle.