When Kia first confirmed a new pickup for America, many speculated it wouldn’t be the Tasman. Some thought it might be a Kia-branded version of Hyundai’s collaboration with GM, or perhaps a Sportage-based truck like the Hyundai Santa Cruz.
The Korean automaker has other ideas, though. Kia has officially unveiled its plans to introduce an electric truck to the North American market.
At the 2025 Kia CEO Investor Day, the automaker confirmed an electric pickup is on the way, built on a new EV platform. This follows an earlier announcement about an electric truck, first shared by a Kia official during a media roundtable with How-to Geek’s sister site, CarBuzz.
However, the truck Kia just confirmed for North America is a completely different model, not the electric Tasman initially discussed.
Powerful Towing and Off-Road Performance
Kia has yet to reveal specific details about the new platform, but it will be designed to cater to both urban and outdoor lifestyles. The automaker also acknowledged the varied needs of the pickup market, whether for internal combustion engines (ICE) or electric vehicles.
While the Tasman will be available in Korea, Australia, and other emerging markets, North America will receive a different model altogether.
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Kia hasn’t provided in-depth details about its upcoming electric truck for North America, but it plans to sell 90,000 units annually and capture a 7 percent market share. The truck is expected to offer strong towing capabilities, off-road performance, best-in-class interior and cargo space, and cutting-edge infotainment and safety features.
Entering this competitive segment won’t be easy, as Kia will face rivals like the Rivian R1T, Tesla Cybertruck, and the upcoming Scout Terra.
Expected to Be Manufactured in the U.S.
Though not specified in the press release, it’s likely the upcoming electric Kia truck will be built in the U.S. to bypass the Chicken Tax and the latest auto tariffs, which make importing trucks into the U.S. challenging—though Ineos still pushes forward with the Grenadier Quartermaster.
Given that Kia already manufactures the EV6 at its West Point, Georgia, plant, there’s a strong possibility the electric truck will be assembled there as well.
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Kia didn’t provide a timeline for its upcoming truck in the U.S., but we can likely expect it within the next five years. The 2025 Kia CEO Investor Day mainly focused on the company’s plans through 2030, so more details will emerge as they become available.
Source: Kia
