Although Kia has already ruled out bringing the polarizing Tasman to the United States, we’re still getting a truck. Instead of the gasoline and diesel workhorse, a fully electric pickup is coming to North America. The announcement was just made at the 2025 Kia CEO Investor Day event, during which some preliminary details were disclosed. It will ride on a new EV platform intended for “both urban and outdoor use.”
Reading between the lines, Kia is likely saying the new truck won’t compete in the fullsize segment with the Ford F-150. It’ll be smaller, presumably the size of a Ranger. CEO Ho Sung Song did say last week during the Seoul Mobility Show that the US-bound truck would do battle in the midsize segment with the likes of the Toyota Tacoma and Jeep Gladiator. He quashed rumors about bringing the Tasman to North America.
Kia calls its new pickup an “innovative model” engineered to deliver segment-leading space for people and their cargo. The unnamed electric truck is claimed to have real off-road chops and “a robust towing system.” The Korean company also promises “advanced infotainment and safety features.” In the mid-to-long term, Kia intends to sell 90,000 units annually and grab a 7-percent market share.
Kia doesn’t say where it plans to build the truck, but logic tells us it’s going to be assembled at a plant in the United States. Otherwise, the electric pickup would be subjected to the tariffs imposed by the Trump administration, plus the 25-percent Chicken tax. It could be built at the new Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America (HMGMA), which celebrated its grand opening at the end of March.
The Ioniq 5 and Ioniq 9 are already being built at the new facility in Georgia, with an undisclosed Kia model confirmed for 2026. It would make sense, considering the new plant was conceived primarily for EVs. Hybrids and models for the Genesis brand can also be built at the HMGMA, which has an initial annual production capacity of 300,000 units. If it won't be made there, the pickup could be built at the Kia Manufacturing Georgia (KMMG).
Some will remember that an electric truck mule was spotted in California nearly a year ago. The heavily disguised pickup was definitely a work-in-progress test vehicle since it had parts borrowed from existing models. It appeared to feature the EV9’s headlights and mirrors, along with the Hyundai Santa Cruz’s taillights.
As for the Tasman, it’s only coming to Korea, Australia, and emerging markets. Kia targets annual sales of 80,000 units and a six-percent market share.
Source: Kia
