Kia Tasman electric: Global executive reaffirms EV ute is coming
12/05/2024 07:30 PM
A top Kia executive has reaffirmed an electric version of the South Korean car maker's first ute is on the way, but timing has not been confirmed.
While Kia is busy finalising the petrol and diesel 2025 Kia Tasman ute – the brand's first dual-cab pick-up – for Australia and overseas markets, a key figure within the brand has re-confirmed plans for an electric version.
Christo Valentyn, Kia's Head of Marketing in South Africa told US news outlet CarBuzz, "I'm probably not supposed to say this but… an electric [Tasman] is coming."
This is not the first time Kia has confirmed an electric version of the ute, as plans for an “strategic” electric pick-up “aimed at emerging markets” – now known to be the Tasman – was announced by Kia’s CEO in 2022 for a 2026 launch.
But the commitment to a tailpipe emissions-free ute comes as the demand for EVs cools globally.
The Kia executive did not state when the battery-powered Tasman is coming or what markets it will launch in, despite the brand’s global boss indicating a 2026 introduction two years ago.
Locally, a Kia spokesperson told Drive: "Kia Australia can only confirm what is intended for our local market at launch and that will be a 2.2-litre turbo-diesel engine."
"The Tasman is designed for a long product lifecycle and with a modular platform can cater to multiple powertrains. We are mindful of the NVES [New Vehicle Emissions Standards] and will provide various powertrain options, if and when they are available," they added.
Roland Rivero, Kia Australia's General Manager of Product Planning, previously told media – including Drive – that introducing an electric Tasman variant globally will be dictated by market demand.
"What's going to determine that [launching a Tasman EV] ultimately is the market," Rivero said.
"It's not just the Australian marketplace, it's going to have to be a collective of all the regions that will import and sell the Tasman. We're a little bit lagging on the EV infrastructure side of things.
“I think that is probably worth noting is that we're pretty agile and nimble and swift to respond, and if government policy – plus infrastructure enhancements, et cetera – come our way, and therefore the market and the demand of customers follow with it, we can respond accordingly.”
Kia said it will offer three variants of the Tasman dual-cab ute: a regular model, a road-specific Tasman X-Line, and an off-road variant dubbed the Tasman X-Pro.
However, the South Korean car maker’s local division is yet to confirm if all three Tasman trim lines will be available in Australian showrooms once it arrives in mid-2025.
For context, if Kia intends to bring in an electric version of the Tasman ute to Australia, it will join LDV, the only brand that currently offers a battery-powered pick-up in showrooms, the soon-to-be-replaced eT60 (priced from $92,990 before on-road costs).
The diesel Kia Tasman ute coming to Australia will be powered by a 2.2-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder engine, also seen in the Kia Sorento.
Kia has slightly increased the engine output to 154kW/441Nm for the dual-cab ute in comparison to the Sorento SUV's 148kW/440Nm.
The South Korean car maker claims the dual cab ute can accelerate from 0-100km/h in 10.4 seconds and reach a top speed of 185km/h.
The post Kia Tasman electric: Global executive reaffirms EV ute is coming appeared first on Drive.
