No Rebadging – Not a Hyundai Santa Cruz
A confidential briefing between Kia and its dealers has revealed that the carmaker is planning to launch a double-cab pickup truck in 2025, according to a report from Australian publication Drive. The dealers were told to anticipate a “genuine and serious rival” to the Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger – two vehicles that have been the top sellers in the country for the past six years. It’s a tall order, but Kia is taking it seriously, having been working on the project since 2020. This suggests that Kia is not taking a risk with a speculative product, but rather creating a vehicle that can stand up to the competition in a very competitive segment.
The same study indicates that the not yet named pickup truck – referred to internally as ‘TK’ – will have the same capacity for towing and carrying cargo as the most popular pickups. However, it is yet to be specified which engines will be part of this model’s portfolio. Rumor has it that an electric option may be created, potentially based on the same sturdy ladder-frame chassis that the standard iteration of the pickup will launch with.
Previously, test images of the pick-up, hidden beneath camouflage, were spotted and now it appears to have a robust design that is based on the Mohave SUV. The SUV is exported to foreign markets as a separate body-on-frame model.
The outlook is certainly positive for Kia, however, wariness still remains. The truck sector is quite distinctive from other vehicles, with frequent clienteles tending to remain devoted towards a single brand. Illustration of this idea can be shown in sister corporation Hyundai’s captivating introduction of the Santa Cruz, that boasted an appealing visual design and some thoughtful constructs; unfortunately, it is being outsold in America by the latecomer Ford Maverick.
Convincing Aussies to bid farewell to their beloved Fords and Toyotas and try a spanking new Kia might be quite an undertaking.
Though adversities may present themselves to the brand in Australia, we consider that launching a Kia pickup within the US would be even more strenuous – at first. Prejudices such as hostility towards other groups, and misunderstanding of outside cultures let us know that this may not be an area for a South Korean truck. However, if anyone has the ability to attract die-hard pick-up fans, it could potentially be Kia.
In recent times, the company has altered its reputation and is now viewed as a decidedly reasonable sanctuary where dependable, usually outstanding vehicles can be acquired – apart from the occasional Tik-Tok-motivated robberies of obsolete cars.
If Kia can manufacture an impressive automobile and demonstrate its resilience amidst the arduous conditions of the Australian Outback, then Americans may start to reflect the same enthusiasm for it as they do for the HiLux and other hard-to-find offerings.
