Kia branched out into the body-on-frame midsize pickup market with the form of goofy-looking Tasman. Kia has confirmed that the Tasman won’t come to america. However that doesn’t imply the American market will not get a brand new Kia pickup truck. Kia CEO Ho Sung Music spoke to Automotive Information on the Seoul Mobility Present and confirmed that Kia is seeking to construct a pickup truck for the U.S. and can reveal extra particulars quickly.
Key Takeaways
Kia broke into the midsize truck section with the Tasman
The model confirmed the Tasman isn’t coming to America
However Kia is planning a unique truck for America
It could possibly be an electrical truck that Kia alluded to in its 2030 product roadmap
And it could possibly be constructed at Hyundai’s new Metaplant in Georgia
Kia’s New American Truck Is Not The Tasman
Music informed Automotive Information that Kia would have extra particulars about its U.S.-bound pickup truck “subsequent week;” Kia has its Investor Day presentation scheduled for April ninth. Music didn’t present any extra data in regards to the truck. However he did reiterate that the brand new American truck wouldn’t be the Tasman.
“We don’t develop that car for the American market,” Music mentioned.
“However within the meantime, we are actually significantly learning how one can get into the pickup truck market in america via a unique mannequin that isn’t the Tasman.”
Will Kia’s New American Truck Be Electrical?
Kia quasi-confirmed an electrical pickup for America when it delivered its 2030 product highway map throughout an Investor Day presentation in 2022. The model famous, “in america, the place mid-sized SUVs and pickups are common, electrical variations of those fashions shall be produced domestically from 2024.” Native manufacturing can be essential given the brand new tariff regime. A yet-to-be-named Kia car will enter manufacturing at Hyundai’s new Metaplant in Georgia in 2026. And that plant will specialise in EVs.
Kia’s company sibling, Hyundai, can also be inquisitive about coming into the American midsize pickup market. Nonetheless, that proposed truck can be a rebadged model of the Chevrolet Colorado and be constructed by Basic Motors.
TopSpeed’s Take
Kia has been on a roll in America this decade. The model has not been shy about coming into new segments with standouts just like the Telluride SUV or creating new segments with the three-row, all-electric EV9 SUV. Overseas manufacturers face far much less of a gross sales headwind constructing midsize vehicles — because the Toyota Tacoma has proven — than full-size vehicles.
Kia would not have Toyota’s vaunted repute for reliability and sturdiness, which helps its truck gross sales. However the model does have a repute as a significant participant within the EV house. The midsize truck section is crying out for one thing even resembling an environment friendly possibility. And there could possibly be a gap for Kia if it will probably get an electrical truck on the highway earlier than Toyota does.
