After the resounding success of the Kia EV9 7-seat electric SUV, the Korean auto giant is planning to give a shot to the electric mid-size pickup truck segment.
The upcoming Kia electric pickup truck is finally on the road, albeit wearing a thick camouflage. Videos of the EV have surfaced online. This comes after Kia gets closer to launching its first pickup truck, the Tasman. But the electric pickup truck, which looks inspired by the design philosophy of other Kia EVs, will become the second pickup from the Korean car marque. I don’t think it will aim at competing against the likes of the Tesla Cybertruck and Rivian R1T in terms of performance. Therefore, it could lock horns with legacy pickups like the Ford F-150 Lightning, Chevrolet Silverado EV and Ram 1500 REV.
You might also like: 2025 Kia EV6 Gets A Bigger Battery And More Range
Kia Electric Pickup Truck – Design
This video has been uploaded by KindelAuto on YouTube. The 2-minute-35-second-long video captures the mid-size electric pickup truck on the highways in the U.S. Interestingly, the video takes notice of the EV from every angle thoroughly. Look closely and you will even be able to spot the trademark matte blue colour of the EV9. At the front, the camouflage lets you peep inside at the LED DRLs and LED headlamp setup which remind us of the EV9. Furthermore, the taillamps seem to be borrowed from the Hyundai Santa Cruz. Still, I expect these elements to change slightly in the production-spec model.
There are not enough details about the specifications of this electric truck just yet. But what could be intriguing to experience is the next-gen EV platform from Hyundai. This platform will likely offer more range at a more affordable price. For reference, the existing EV9 has an EPA-estimated range of 304 miles (489 km). Also, the price tag is an attractive $54,900.
You might also like: Kia EV3 Teased Ahead of May 23 World Premiere
Learn Electric Cars Says
Hyundai Motor Company is aggressively focusing on expanding its global footprint. This strategy is also applicable to its sub-brands – Kia and Genesis. Apart from preparing global models, they are ensuring that they cater to all major market segments too. In fact, Kia has announced plans to launch 2 EVs every year and complete the lineup by 2027. Going by this logic, we can expect up to 8 new EVs by the end of 2027 if we start counting from 2024.
Also, since SUVs have been the flavour of the season for most international markets in the last few years, Kia is focusing on this segment along with its derivatives like pickup truck space. Pickup trucks are excessively popular in markets like the U.S., Australia, the Middle East, Canada, etc. Going forward, we are bound to see more electric pickup trucks. This trend is already taking shape in the U.S. Therefore, Hyundai’s commitment to cater to the evolving trends could be the key to the conglomerate’s success in times to come.
Pingback: Kia EV3 Breaks Cover - All You Need To Know