Confirmed! Kia locks in an all-new electric ute, but for now it’s only headed to the US
Kia has announced that is well underway to developing an all-new battery-powered mid-size ute.
But it’s bound for the US market and unrelated to the 2026 Kia Tasman EV ute that will be sold in Australia from around July.
The new pick-up was announced at the 2025 Kia Investor Day event with the second mid-sizer based on an all-new EV platform developed for “both urban and outdoor use”.
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No reason was given for why a second ute will be built to rival the likes of the Rivian R1T and Tesla Cybertruck, rather than using the current Tasman.
The Tasman will launch as turbo-diesel to fight the Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux, but a petrol-electric hybrid is coming soon after as its first electrified option. An EV has also been mooted.
It’s thought, despite falling into the ‘mid-size category’, the new Kia ute will be larger than Tasman.
However, it will fall short of challenging the full-size Ford F-150 Lightning for dimensions, enabling the brand to potentially claim class best for cabin space against the strong-selling US-spec Ranger and US-specific Toyota Tacoma.
While the ‘urban’ is thought to refer to a ‘modest’ size (in the US, at least), the new ute has been promised to be capable off-road and feature a “robust towing system” – those hints at a rugged ladder-frame chassis, rather than a car-like monocoque.
Within, the new ute will also offer “advanced infotainment and safety features”, with the Korean brand clearly aiming squarely at lifestyle buyers, rather than those who will use the battery-powered pick-up for work.
When it lands, Kia told investors that that it expects to shift as many as 90,000 per year – volumes that suggest export markets might play a role in its success.
However, if not significantly bigger than the Tasman offered in Australia, it’s unlikely to ever be sold locally to prevent it poaching its sales.
In light of the new US tariffs, it’s now almost certain that the new ute will be made in the USA at an all-new Hyundai Group factory that has recently opened in Georgia.
