Gwangju: Kia Corp. has officially commenced mass production of its next-generation military medium tactical vehicle, the company announced during a roll-out ceremony held at its Autoland plant in Gwangju, located approximately 270 kilometers south of Seoul. Kia has been engaged in the development of military vehicles since the 1970s.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the newly unveiled Kia Medium Tactical Vehicle (KMTV) is the first model of its kind to be introduced in 48 years, following the initial standard medium tactical vehicle launched in 1977. This development comes after a December 2019 contract with the South Korean Army, which led to Kia undertaking prototype development, comprehensive testing, and initial trial production and evaluation before advancing to full-scale production.
The KMTV is available in two variants and is equipped with 280-horsepower and 330-horsepower diesel engines for the 2.5-ton and 5-ton versions, respectively. These engines are complemented by an 8-speed automatic transmission. The vehicle is also equipped with advanced features such as around-view monitoring, air suspension seats, front and rear cameras, and a built-in navigation system. The updated KMTV is designed to offer superior payload capacity and enhanced protection features, making it appealing to both domestic and international defense markets.
Starting this month, Kia will commence deliveries of the vehicles to the South Korean Army and is planning to extend its supply to global customers. A company official stated, "We will continue to apply innovative technologies to develop special purpose vehicles that support the safe transport of troops and shape the future of military mobility."