Kia hasn’t sold pickup trucks in the United States yet, unlike its relative Hyundai, which has been offering one for some time. But Kia is getting ready to change that. They’ve announced a new pickup truck called the Tasman, which they plan to sell in countries like South Korea, the Middle East, and other places around the world.
However, Kia hasn’t said anything about selling the Tasman in the United States yet. But since Hyundai already sells a pickup truck called the Santa Cruz here, there’s a chance Kia might follow suit. But there’s a challenge called the Chicken Tax, which could make it hard for Kia to sell the Tasman in the U.S. if they don’t build it here.
Kia started making the EV9 in South Korea, but they’re also getting ready to make it in the United States at their Georgia factory. The EV6 is still made in South Korea, so it doesn’t qualify for federal tax credits for electric vehicles. But some people get around that by leasing instead of buying.
Kia hasn’t given us many details about the Tasman yet. But some rumors say it might have a diesel engine in Australia. It could come with either two-wheel or four-wheel drive, and there might be different versions with different cab sizes.
This is a big move for Kia, but they’re not stopping here. They’ve also promised to make two electric pickup trucks in the next few years. The Tasman will be a smaller truck, like the Ford Ranger. We don’t know much about the electric trucks yet, but one of them might be similar in size to the Tasman.
Electric trucks sometimes don’t go very far when they’re towing heavy loads. But a smaller electric truck that’s meant for city driving could be just right. They’re good for short trips, carrying light things, and not towing too often. That’s why they’re popular in Europe. So, it wouldn’t be surprising if Kia made a smaller electric truck instead of a big one for Americans.
