Final 12 months, Kia introduced its plucky Kia Tasman, which, regardless of the polarizing design, the automaker considers a hit. And Kia is celebrating by releasing a second pickup: an electrical car that, not like the Tasman, is coming to North America.
“Kia plans to introduce an EV pickup truck based mostly on a brand new EV platform designed for each city and outside use,” the corporate mentioned in an announcement earlier in April. “The car will characteristic best-in-class inside and cargo area, a sturdy towing system, off-road capabilities and superior infotainment and security options.”
Particulars proper now are pretty slim, however some conclusions may be drawn from Kia’s statements: The inclusion of off-road capabilities will set the upcoming EV other than the Hyundai Santa Fe, which is at the moment the one pickup truck Kia or its sister firm sells within the US proper now.
It’s going to be on a brand new EV platform, so it will even be set other than the corporate’s current EV choices, just like the Kia EV6. The infotainment will doubtless be just like present mannequin Kia EVs and automobiles, just like the dual-display know-how within the extra latest Kia Sportage SUVs.
Kia final week additionally showcased its extra reasonably priced EV sedan, with CNET available to see the 2026 Kia EV4.
Kia electrical pickup truck: Will it succeed within the US?
Per the press launch, Kia is anticipating to promote roughly 90,000 of those new EV pickups per 12 months, a lofty objective in a market the place the Ford F-150 Lightning is barely hitting 30,000 models bought. By most accounts, it is an bold gross sales objective to hit for a car that’ll signify Kia’s first try at appeasing the US truck purchaser market. Nonetheless, there’s nonetheless room for optimism.
“The fashions constructed on the eGMP line bought over 100K models in 2024,” mentioned Liz Najman, director of market insights at Recurrent, an organization that provides impartial insights on EV efficiency. “Furthermore, just like the EV6, Kia pickups will doubtless be made within the US, serving to keep away from pricey tariffs that can drive up costs for customers. It’s doubtless that value will likely be a significant factor for customers within the coming years.”
Najman additionally mentioned that vehicles had been the 2 top-selling automobiles in 2024, so it is attainable that Kia can attain its gross sales objectives, offered that the automaker can hit that candy spot of aggressive pricing and functionality.
“Once you take a look at electrical automotive gross sales, each the Ford Mustang Mach-E and the Jeep Wrangler PHEV bought over 50K models in 2024, and naturally the Mannequin 3 and the Mannequin Y bought 150K+ and 370K+ models,” Najman mentioned. “Electrical automobiles are seeing sturdy gross sales numbers once they ship on what prospects need.”