Why electric cars from Kia can suddenly smell like gasoline

Nostalgia in a jerry can

In Finland, buyers of the new Kia EV4 get an air freshener that smells like gasoline and engine oil. The idea comes from Finnish Kia importer Astara Auto, which figured that switching to electric driving is not only a technical step, but also an emotional one. For many drivers, the smell of gasoline is simply part of driving, or so the thinking goes.

That is why Kia, together with perfumer Max Perttula, developed a fragrance that evokes the feel of a gasoline car. It is not an incendiary fragrance tree literally dipped in gasoline, but, according to Kia, a refined blend of amber, birch resin, galbanum and a hint of jasmine – a flower that, yes, naturally contains molecules reminiscent of gasoline in terms of scent. Perttula says the blend is constructed like a perfume, with base notes of motor oil and resin and a touch of florality to keep it from being “too heavy.”

From gas station to wellness

The scent is packaged in a miniature red jerry can, which you can hang from your rearview mirror. Kia calls it “help with withdrawal symptoms” for people switching from fossil to electric. The scent is said to help make the transition feel a little less “clinical.

For now, the promotion is only for customers in Finland, but the idea is getting worldwide attention. A good PR stunt. We would not be surprised if soon you will also receive such a fuel pump with your new Kia EV4 in the Netherlands. The model is coming soon, by the way – the first deliveries in the Netherlands are expected in the fourth quarter of 2025. In the video below, we tell you more about the EV4: