Kia is developing a midsize pickup truck specifically tailored for the American market, in contrast to the Tasman.

      Kia

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      Kia is officially in the initial stages of developing a midsize truck for the U.S. market. CEO Ho Sung Song informed the media at the Seoul Mobility Show this week that the company is actively researching the project and will provide additional details about the concept next week at its annual Investor Day presentation, according to Automotive News.

      Perhaps more intriguing than the announcement itself is the reiteration of this familiar statement: It will not be the Tasman—Kia's traditional midsize truck that competes internationally with vehicles like the Ford Ranger, VW Amarok, and Toyota Hilux.

      “We are now seriously considering how to enter the pickup truck market in the United States through a different model that is not the Tasman,” he conveyed to attendees at the show.

      This can be interpreted in various ways. He may imply that it won't bear the name Tasman, although it will retain the same basic body-on-frame architecture found in its global pickup. Alternatively, he could mean it will be something completely different, perhaps resembling the unibody Hyundai Santa Cruz. Nevertheless, the term "midsize" suggests it would be more comparable to the Chevrolet Colorado, Nissan Frontier, Toyota Tacoma, or U.S.-specific Ranger.

      There’s also a third possibility: electrification. Hyundai has publicly stated that its new IMA (“Integrated Modular Architecture”) platform was designed from the outset to support a pickup truck. Set to replace the already diverse E-GMP platform in the coming years, IMA will ultimately serve as the main platform for all Hyundai and Kia electrified vehicles.

      In any case, a Korean pickup sold in the U.S. will almost certainly need to be manufactured domestically. Even prior to the current tariffs, hefty import duties on utility vehicles have long made it impractical for manufacturers to bring foreign-built pickups into the U.S. We hope to learn more significant information next Wednesday, April 9, during Kia’s presentation.

      Do you have any insights regarding Korean trucks coming to America? Reach out to us at [email protected].