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Kia head office in South Korea has announced plans for two utes – but only one will come to Australia, with diesel and likely electric power.
The second of two Kia utes confirmed for overseas showrooms – a US-built battery-powered model on dedicated electric-car underpinnings, aimed at the Rivian R1T – will not come to Australia.
Instead Kia Australia will focus on a heavy-duty dual-cab ute – believed to be called the Tasman, based on trademark filings – due in 2025 to rival the Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger.
While it is set to launch with diesel power, it is expected to add the option of electric propulsion a year or two later – based on information confirmed by Kia head office in South Korea.
Whereas the Tasman is slated to be built in South Korea, the second, likely slightly-larger electric pick-up is expected to be produced in the United States, targeting US customers.
“We’ve been looking at one line of product, and we haven’t even thought about the other one,” Kia Australia CEO Damien Meredith told Drive at the Australian Open, when asked about the two utes for Australia.
“And whether that’s being developed or not, I don’t know, because our focus has been on that one train of product that we’ve been talking about, wishing about, and hoping about for quite a long time.
“We’re only thinking about one line of product.”
“[Kia global CEO Ho-Sung Song] has already talked about the potential of an EV [ute], but we want to get the one that we know about into market and successful. Then we’ll worry about what’s coming behind it.”
In 2022 Kia announced plans for two electric utes: a “dedicated” model built in the US for developed and emerging markets, and a “strategic model aimed at emerging markets” only.
It was later discovered the strategic model – the vehicle bound for Australia – would also be available with diesel power.
Though little information about this second “dedicated” ute has been confirmed, it’s thought to be closer in size to full-size pick-ups such as Ram 1500, Chevrolet Silverado and Ford F-150 – by virtue of where it will be built and sold – and is expected to use dedicated electric-car underpinnings.
It is unclear if a Hyundai version of the Kia Tasman is in development.
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