- Kia confirms it is developing a separate midsize pickup truck for the US market.
- It will target the midsize pickup segment, and there are rumors it could be an EV.
- More details about the new truck will be announced at Kia’s Investor Day on April 9.
If you want to play in the big leagues of the US auto market, you’d better bring a pickup truck to the party. That’s a truth not lost on Kia. The company’s CEO has confirmed that Kia is planning to enter the North American midsize pickup segment with a new model, one that will be entirely separate from the Tasman, which is slated for other global markets.
More: Kia Toughens Up The Tasman, Doesn’t Rule Out Ford Ranger Raptor Rival
Kia CEO Ho Sung Song shared the update on Thursday, offering a teaser of what’s to come: “We’re going to have more details next week about the pickup for the U.S. But in general terms … we are studying now.” A formal announcement is expected during Kia’s Investor Day, scheduled for April 9.
Kia Has a Truck for the USA, Just Not That Truck
The statement came during the ongoing Seoul Mobility Show in Korea, where Kia introduced a rugged “Weekender” version of the Tasman. But just in case there was any lingering confusion, Song made it clear: the Tasman isn’t coming stateside.
“We don’t develop that vehicle [the Tasman] for the American market,” Song told Autonews on the sidelines of the show. “But in the meantime, we are now seriously studying how to get into the pickup truck market in the United States through a different model that is not the Tasman.”
Electric? Maybe. Built in the USA? 100 Percent
While no details were offered on what kind of powertrain this future pickup might use, sources have previously suggested it could be an electric model. Industry rumors point to a debut window sometime between 2026 and 2029, potentially alongside a Hyundai-branded sibling. Both are expected to be assembled in Georgia at Hyundai’s Metaplant America facility, not just to sidestep the ongoing trade tensions, but more critically, to avoid the infamous Chicken Tax that slaps a 25 percent tariff on imported trucks.
More: GM Could Give Hyundai Pickup Trucks In Exchange For Electric Vans
Another option reportedly still in play: a deal with GM that would let Kia and Hyundai offer their own internal combustion versions of the Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon. And knowing how automakers love a hedge, both strategies could be on the table. Either way, we’ll know more on April 9.
The current US midsize pickup scene is dominated by internal combustion stalwarts like the Toyota Tacoma, Chevy Colorado, GMC Canyon, Nissan Frontier, Ford Ranger, and Jeep Gladiator. Fully electric trucks—including the Ford F-150 Lightning, Rivian R1T, and Tesla Cybertruck—tend to sit in a larger category, which leaves a potential opening for Kia to introduce a more compact, EV-friendly alternative.
Kia’s Bigger Plans for Commercial EVs
The Tasman, meanwhile, will launch in markets like South Korea, Australia, Africa, and the Middle East, with traditional gas and diesel powertrains. It’s unclear whether Kia’s US-bound pickup will borrow design elements or utility features from the polarizing Tasman, or take an entirely different path.
More: Hyundai Investing $21 Billion In The US To Dodge Trump’s Tariffs
Looking beyond pickups, Kia is gearing up to expand its electric light commercial vehicle lineup, starting with the PV5 van. The PV7 and PV9 are set to follow. CEO Song framed this expansion into new segments, including LCVs and pickups, as “an opportunity” for the brand, “not a risk.”
