Kia has plans to expand its pickup line-up beyond the Tasman, with a new body-on-frame truck featuring hybrid (HEV) and extended-range (EREV) electric power due before the end of the decade.
The detail was included in Kia’s CEO Investor Day presentation, where the company outlined its wider global growth plans through to 2030. Included was confirmation that Kia intends to launch a new body-on-frame pickup with HEV and EREV variants aimed at core markets in North America.
While there is very little technical detail at this stage, the announcement is significant because it shows that Kia sees pickups as more than a one-model project.
The Tasman marked Kia’s first serious move into the global pickup market, but this latest statement suggests the brand is already planning a wider strategy. Rather than relying only on conventional combustion or going straight to full EV power, Kia appears to be exploring electrified options that could offer lower emissions without sacrificing the usability expected from a working truck.
That could make sense in a segment where towing, payload, long-distance driving and refuelling convenience still matter hugely, particularly in markets such as North America.
Kia did not reveal any details on size, platform, performance or timing beyond the 2030 target, and there is no indication yet that the new model is intended for the UK or Europe. But the fact that it specifically mentioned hybrid and range-extender powertrains is telling, especially at a time when many manufacturers are still working out how far and how quickly pickup buyers are willing to move away from diesel and petrol.
The company’s investor presentation also made clear that Kia is taking a flexible approach to powertrains more broadly, with plans for nine new ICE models and an expanded hybrid line-up by 2030. In that context, the future pickup looks like part of a wider strategy to offer electrification in forms that meet different market and customer demands.
The announcement is more of a roadmap than a reveal, but it does show that Kia’s pickup ambitions stretch beyond the Tasman, and that electrified body-on-frame trucks are firmly part of the plan.
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