Kia’s plucky Tasman truck, launched final yr, was thought of successful regardless of its polarizing design. And Kia is celebrating by releasing a second pickup truck: an electrical automobile 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 stated in April. “The automobile will function best-in-class inside and cargo area, a strong 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 aside from the Hyundai Santa Fe, which is at present 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 aside from the corporate’s present EV choices, just like the Kia EV6. The infotainment will seemingly be just like present mannequin Kia EVs and autos, just like the dual-display expertise within the extra current Kia Sportage SUVs.
Kia final week additionally showcased its extra reasonably priced EV sedan, with CNET available to see the 2026 Kia EV4.
Kia EV pickup truck: Will it succeed within the US?
Per the assertion, Kia is anticipating to promote roughly 90,000 of those new EV pickups per yr, a lofty purpose in a market the place the Ford F-150 Lightning is barely hitting 30,000 models offered. By most accounts, it is an bold gross sales purpose to hit for a automobile that’ll signify Kia’s first try at appeasing the US truck purchaser market. Nevertheless, there’s nonetheless room for optimism.
“The fashions constructed on the eGMP line offered over 100K models in 2024,” stated Liz Najman, director of market insights at Recurrent, an organization that gives impartial insights on EV efficiency. “Furthermore, just like the EV6, Kia pickups will seemingly be made within the US, serving to keep away from expensive tariffs that can drive up costs for shoppers. It’s seemingly that worth shall be a significant factor for shoppers within the coming years.”
Najman additionally stated that vehicles had been the 2 top-selling autos in 2024, so it is doable that Kia can attain its gross sales objectives, offered that the automaker can hit that candy spot of aggressive pricing and functionality.
“Electrical autos are seeing sturdy gross sales numbers after they ship on what clients need,” Najman stated, highlighting that in electrical automobile gross sales, the Ford Mustang Mach-E and the Jeep Wrangler PHEV every offered greater than 50,000 models in 2024 and the Mannequin 3 and the Mannequin Y offered greater than 150,000 and 370,000 models, respectively.