[UPDATE] Kia has released the first teaser image of the Tasman wearing a colourful wrap.
While Kia has said the Tasman will be its first global truck, the company has yet to confirm whether the model will be sold in the United States. Officially, at least for now, the truck will only be available in South Korea, Australia, the Middle East, and Africa. Interestingly, a new spy video shows the mid-size pickup truck undergoing testing on U.S. soil. With a Michigan license plate, the heavily camouflaged prototype was caught on camera in California.
It’s not uncommon for automakers to test future vehicles in countries where they have no intention of selling them. But what if the Tasman does come to the U.S.? If it’s not going to be built in Georgia, we expect its selling price to be very high after factoring in the Chicken Tax. This is a 25 percent tariff on light trucks imported into the U.S. that dates back to the administration of President Lyndon B. Johnson, when it was first imposed in 1964.
A separate video is attached below and published on Tik Tok shows a different Tasman prototype in Australia. It is also covered in camouflage, but someone appears to have a key and can open the truck and get inside. The cabin is likely to be that of a top-spec version, judging by the amount of equipment: memory seats, a sunroof, dual screens, ambient lighting, and a wireless charging pad.
You’ll also notice the gear selector is on the steering column and the left-hand drive layout despite Australia being a right-hand drive market. The cabin looks to follow the EV9’s lead but looks a little more solid with chunky door handles. The black honeycomb mesh on the dashboard hides the air vents which can be controlled via chunky knobs. While this is a double cab, there will be other body styles available, including a single cab and a chassis cab.
The Ford Ranger rival has been spotted in metropolitan Sydney, likely to be shown privately to dealers ahead of its launch next year. Kia intends to sell the flagship in 4×4 and 4×2 configurations with a 2.2-liter four-cylinder turbodiesel engine and an eight-speed automatic transmission. A GT derivative with a V-6 is also rumored to be under consideration. A fully electric Tasman is reportedly due to launch in late 2026.
Meanwhile, the world premiere is scheduled to take place before the end of 2024. It is worth noting that the Tasman will be a ladder-frame truck that is larger than the Hyundai Santa Cruz unibody. This truck will compete not only with the Ranger, but also the Toyota Hilux and Volkswagen Amarok.
