Kia Motors says it is developing a new battery-electric pickup specifically for North America. The pickup is based on a new BEV platform “designed for both urban and outdoor use.”
During its investor day, the South Korean automaker says the new BEV will feature a “robust towing system,” advanced infotainment features and off-roading capability and features.
Kia does not specify the size-class of the pickup, but it is expected to be midsize rather than a fullsize truck. The automaker says it intends to sell 90,000 units a year.
Kia this year is launching a midsize pickup, Tasman, in the Middle East and Oceana markets. That truck is not coming to North America.
Speculation is that the truck is based on the EV9 electric SUV.
Kia doesn’t say where the U.S.-bound BEV pickup will be manufactured, but the likelihood is it will be produced at either the Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America (HMGMA) in Georgia or the Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia (KMMG) facility to avoid possible tariffs as well as the long-standing tariffs on pickups that predate the new Trump tariffs.
Hyundai has a joint-venture agreement with General Motors, but both companies have been quiet on how the agreement might benefit Kia. GM, Hyundai and Kia, though, would all have interests in an EV midsize pickup by 2030. That class of pickup has already been discussed as a project of collaboration between the two companies in the JV.
During Kia’s presentation, the automaker, part of the Hyundai Group, says South Korea will serve as its global hub for BEV development and production, while North America will focus on mid-to-large SUVs, with Europe handling compact SUVs and hatchbacks.
The automaker says it wants to sell a total of 4.19 million vehicles globally by 2030, with 1.2 million being all-electric models. Kia plans to increase its global production capacity by 17% from 3.63 million units this year to 4.25 million by 2030.
