Kia Corp., South Korea’s second-largest automaker, unveiled its highly anticipated new pickup truck model Thursday that sports an exterior wrap design inspired by Australia’s diverse landscape.
Kia’s Tasman was unveiled for the first time at the 2024 Busan International Mobility Show. The name of the vehicle was derived from Tasmania, located in the southernmost part of Australia, while the camouflage design is inspired by the region’s natural landscapes.
Scheduled to be released in 2025, the Tasman marks Kia’s inaugural entry into the light commercial vehicle arena, with a phased rollout planned across key markets, including South Korea, Australia, Africa and the Middle East.
The company said the vehicle aims to meet the demands of customers who enjoy outdoor recreational activities.
Currently, KG Mobility’s Rexton Sports model dominates the local pickup truck market.
Kia also brought to the exhibition its marquee EV models, including the EV6, EV9 and its latest EV3, set to be sold next month.
The comp
any also showcased three of its PBV (platform beyond vehicle) concept models at the trade show.
Through PBV models, Kia aims to offer a flexible platform with creative service solutions that best serve the purposes of customers like delivery, logistics and taxi-hailing.
Kia said it plans to release variant PBV models in addition to the basic model. The company said the vehicle will facilitate diverse lifestyles and business purposes for users.
Jung Won-jung, vice president of Kia’s domestic business, said the company will do its best “in developing vehicle models that take into consideration customers’ diverse lifestyles and businesses.”
Source: Yonhap News Agency