This is the first time when Kia has officially confirmed an electric Tasman is in the works. Although Kia said its modular platform was flexible enough to fit different powertrains, an EV version was never mentioned.
Earlier this year, the electric pickup was spotted testing in the US (see the video below). While it’s difficult to confirm, the test mule doesn’t seem to be the Tasman. It appears to feature a design more similar to Kia’s three-row EV9 SUV.
Now an executive confirmed that Kia will launch an EV version of the Tasman pickup. According to CarBuzz, Kia’s head of marketing for South Africa, Christo Valentyn, said during a media event earlier this month, “I’m probably not supposed to say this, but…an electric one is coming.”
Kia’s Tasman is slightly smaller than the Ford F-150 Lightning as it is 5,410 mm long, 1,930 mm wide and 1,870 mm tall. Also it will be a direct rival to the Toyota Tacoma and Hilux. Kia said the electric pickup will compete against a growing number of EV trucks, including the Tesla Cybrtruck, Rivina R1T, Chevy Silverado EV, and more.
Whether Kia will launch its EV pickup in the US remains unconfirmed. However, it seems likely, especially after Hyundai Motor Group, Kia’s parent company, recently began production at its large new manufacturing plant in Georgia.
Kia is already manufacturing the three-row EV9 in Georgia, and given America’s love for pickups, it’s expected that Kia’s electric Tasman will make its way to the U.S.
Valentyn mentioned the importance of being “respectful of the segment-leaders,” referring to Ford and Toyota, indicating that to compete, the Tasman will likely need to be built in the U.S.
The Tasman is set to launch in Korea in the first half of 2025, followed by other regions like Australia, Africa, the Middle East, and Saudi Arabia. In some markets, a plug-in hybrid version is expected.
Would you choose an electric Kia pickup over the Ford F-150 Lightning or Tesla Cybertruck? Let us know in the comments!
