Kia introduced its first pickup truck, the Tasman, last year. Unfortunately, it’s only for markets like Europe and Australia, which means it won’t make its way to the US. But that’s not to say Kia isn’t exploring the idea of a pickup for America.
In an interview with Automotive News at this year’s Seoul Mobility Show, Kia CEO Ho Sung Song said the company is “seriously studying” a pickup truck for the US market:
“We’re going to have more details next week about the pickup for the US. But in general terms… we are studying now.”
Photo by: Kia
The CEO confirmed Kia won’t simply bring the Tasman to America. That truck wasn’t developed with the US in mind, and would need serious reworking to be suitable for US roads and regulations. Instead, Kia will likely look to compete with other mid-size trucks like the Chevrolet Colorado, Ford Ranger, and Toyota Tacoma with something entirely unique.
Kia recently inked a deal with General Motors for joint development, which means the two parties could theoretically work together on a new pickup. It’s even rumored that Hyundai will get its own version of the same truck.
We’ll know more on April 9, when CEO Ho Sung Song makes a formal announcement as part of Kia’s Investor Day. If we’re lucky, we could see Kia’s new pickup on US roads in the next few years.
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Source: Kia
