Kia offers a range of vehicles in the U.S., including sedans, which some other automakers have abandoned. Even so, it has never sold a pickup truck here, leaving it without one of the most popular vehicle types in the country. That’s about to change, as Kia CEO Ho Sung Song recently confirmed that the automaker plans to offer a midsize truck here by 2030.
Song said the company would offer hybrid and range-extended midsize trucks within the next few years, but did not give a specific date for the truck’s arrival. The automaker already sells the midsize Tasman pickup in South Korea, Australia, and other countries, but it’s offered with a diesel powertrain, which is popular outside America.
Stiff Competition
The new truck will compete head-to-head with heavy hitters in the midsize segment, including the Toyota Tacoma and Ford Ranger. Kia said it wants to sell 90,000 units per year, an ambitious target, but still far short of the Tacoma’s dominating sales numbers, which climbed to more than 274,000 in 2025. That said, 90,000 units would give the Kia pickup around a 7% market share, which is nothing to sneeze at.
While a truck could open doors for Kia in an ultra-competitive segment, it’s not guaranteed to be a runaway hit. Corporate cousin Hyundai released the Santa Cruz for the 2022 model year, but it will be discontinued after just one generation due to slow sales. The Santa Cruz utilizes a unibody platform, making it more similar to a small crossover, however, which could have been part of its problem.
Kia’s truck is expected to ride on more traditional body-on-frame underpinnings, making it more rugged and capable. That setup would also give the truck reasonable towing and payload capabilities, even with an electrified powertrain options. The platform could also serve as the basis for new Hyundai models based on the recently unveiled Boulder concept.
