Where is the Kia K5 commercial filmed?
_Uncovering the locations, production journey and story behind the Kia K5 campaign_
(By Carmichael Phillip)
What we do know about the filming locations
Much of the information publicly available about the K5 commercial — specifically the campaign titled “K5” by Kia in the U.S. (February 2025) — is surprisingly thin on precise geographic detail. We know the campaign was produced by the agency INNOCEAN USA together with production company credits listed in the campaign’s listing.
That listing doesn’t explicitly say “Shot in [City, State]” for the K5 spot. So we must lean on other clues, inference from automotive commercial practices, and adjacent Kia-filming location data to build an educated picture of where the filming likely occurred.
Clues from Kia’s broader filming history and terrain picks
Looking at other campaigns by Kia offers some helpful context. For example:
A Kia commercial was filmed in the Los Angeles-area desert wilderness at Blayney Ranch (Palmdale, California) — used for a desert “family reunion” campaign.
Automotive commercial-shooting-friendly sites like the Trona Pinnacles (near Ridgecrest, California) have reported hosting Kia shoots.
A Reddit thread identifies a K5 ad as being filmed in downtown Montréal (Place D’Armes) and along Rue Notre Dame, though the thread is user-reported and not official.
Putting these together suggests that Kia is happy to film across both North American urban landscapes and rugged desert terrain — depending on the story they want to tell.
What may be the specific K5-spot filming location
Given the lack of definitive “filming location revealed by Kia” for the K5 campaign, here are the best tentative conclusions:
The campaign listing (February 2025) implies U.S. production; so U.S. locations are likely.
The desert-wilderness link from other Kia spots suggests that at least part of the filming might have used the California desert (for wide open roads / dramatic terrain) — possibly near Palmdale or the Ridgecrest/Trona Pinnacles region.
The urban / street driving visuals in the K5 “Patience Is a Virtue” TV spot hint at scenes shot in a city or well-lit urban environment.
Therefore, the most plausible scenario: The K5 commercial was shot using a mix of a California desert region (for sweeping open visuals) and a city or urban road environment (for the street driving sequences). But absent Kia or the production company publishing a “filming location” note, we cannot definitively say “This one specific place.”
Why Kia might keep the exact location vague
There are several reasons why a manufacturer or ad agency might not publish the exact location of a commercial shoot:
Filming permits often restrict public disclosure of certain production details, especially when locations are sensitive or involve closures.
Keeping some “mystery” enhances the campaign’s image: rather than “we filmed in Location X,” the viewer imagines a high-end cinematic place “somewhere extraordinary.”
There may be multiple locations in one spot: e.g., highway, desert, city, studio. Listing all of them may confuse more than clarify.
Branding focus: The campaign emphasizes the car’s story (“Movement That Inspires” for Kia) more than “Here’s exactly where we drove it.”
With the K5 campaign listing simply crediting agencies and production names but no detailed geographic breakdown, that seems to be the case here.
Key takeaway for viewers and fans
If you watch the K5 commercial and see wide-open sweeping terrain, dusty roads, dramatic light — chances are it’s the California desert region (e.g., Palmdale area, Ridgecrest/Trona region) being used.
If you see night driving or urban road scenes, those could have been shot in a city environment with controlled lighting and permitted street closures.
Unless Kia or the production company publishes a “filmed at” release, the exact city/canyon/road remains a well-guarded production detail.
For automotive fans or location-spotters: look for key landmarks in the ad (distinct rock formations, signage, road markers) and cross-reference with known filming-friendly desert regions in California or other U.S. states.
Final thoughts: Where is the Kia K5 commercial filmed? – In summary
While we don’t have a publicly confirmed pinpoint location for the K5 commercial, the best evidence suggests a dual-location approach:
A desert or remote road location (likely in California) for expansive visuals.
A city or urban road environment for night driving / controlled sequences.
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