Kia has revealed that it’s progressing with the event of a brand new battery-powered mid-size utility automobile. This mannequin is ready to launch within the US market and is unrelated to the Kia Tasman EV ute, which is scheduled on the market in Australia round July 2026.
The announcement was made throughout the 2025 Kia Investor Day occasion, highlighting that this new pick-up can be constructed on an all-new electrical automobile platform designed for each city and out of doors use.
Though no particular cause was offered for the choice to create a second utility automobile to compete with fashions just like the Rivian R1T and Tesla Cybertruck, this new providing won’t make the most of the prevailing Tasman framework.
Initially, the Tasman can be launched with a turbo-diesel engine to compete towards fashionable fashions such because the Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux. A petroleum-electric hybrid variant will comply with quickly after, with discussions of an electrical model additionally within the works.
Regardless of being categorized as a mid-size automobile, the brand new Kia ute is anticipated to be bigger than the Tasman. Nevertheless, it won’t compete in dimension with the full-size Ford F-150 Lightning, which can permit Kia to promote it as having the very best cabin house amongst its opponents within the US, together with the favored US-spec Ranger and Toyota Tacoma.
The time period ‘city’ seemingly signifies a extra compact dimension tailor-made for the US, but the brand new ute guarantees off-road capabilities and features a “strong towing system,” indicating a sturdy ladder-frame chassis slightly than a car-like monocoque design. Inside, the automobile will function “superior infotainment and security options,” focusing on lifestyle-oriented consumers as an alternative of these utilizing the electrical pick-up for work-related functions.
Kia anticipates promoting as many as 90,000 models annually upon its launch, suggesting that export markets could contribute to its general success. Nevertheless, if the brand new ute just isn’t considerably bigger than the Tasman obtainable in Australia, it’s unlikely to be offered there, as that might have an effect on Tasman’s gross sales figures.
Contemplating the brand new tariffs imposed within the US, it’s virtually sure that the brand new utility automobile can be manufactured domestically at a not too long ago opened Hyundai Group manufacturing facility in Georgia.
Source link
