Sorry, Cybertruck: Kia’s electric ute confirmed as EV pick-up truck wars heat up

August 26, 2023August 26, 2023 EV Central team 4407 Views australia, kia electric, Tasman, ute

Kia’s diesel-powered dual-cab, the Tasman, won’t be the only ute offering from the Korean brand, with executives confirming it will be followed by an all-electric pickup in Australia.

It has been thought that Hyundai would launch an electric ute, while Kia would focus on its diesel dual-cab (which could be called the Tasman, though the name is yet to be officially confirmed) but the brand says it plans to also launch an electric ute in Australia remain on track.

“We can’t talk about Hyundai, but we are still consistent in what we’ve said in the past,” says Kia Australia general manager of product planning, Roland Rivero.

“And that’s come all the way up from our global president. He made mention of an electric ute, and that narrative hasn’t changed.”

The news first appeared at the brand’s 2022 Investor Forum, where the company’s most senior executive confirmed the electric ute, part of a plan to launch a total 14 EVs before 2027.

It’s also possible that the EV9 has given us our best look yet at just what could be powering it. A big electric ute requires a big battery, and the Kia’s three-row electric SUV is home to a 98.1kWh battery that delivers a 541km driving range.

The EV9’s twin electric motors don’t just unlock 4WD, but also produce 283kW and up to 700Nm of torque, too.

Recent reports have suggested the electric ute will follow closely behind the diesel-powered Tasman, which would suggest a 2025 launch date.