Kia Announces New Mid-Size Pickup and Global Premier SUV Plans
- By 2030, Kia aims to introduce a mid-size electric and range-extended hybrid truck in the US market.
- The truck is expected to be built on the same platform as Hyundai’s upcoming body-on-frame pickup.
- A new global flagship SUV is planned for release in 2029.
Kia unveiled ambitious plans for the next decade during its annual investor day, outlining the introduction of a mid-size truck designed for the US market and a high-profile electric SUV intended for global audiences. Both vehicles represent a strategic expansion in Kia’s lineup by 2030.
The forthcoming mid-size pickup will feature either a fully electric powertrain or a range-extended hybrid option. It is anticipated to share its underlying architecture with Hyundai’s new body-on-frame pickup, and it may also inspire a rugged version tailored as a Kia SUV.
In addition to these models, Kia intends to double its hybrid electric vehicle offerings from four to eight and aims to hit 1.02 million vehicle sales in the US by 2030, up from 852,155 units sold last year. The company projects selling 90,000 trucks annually in the US by 2034, as reported by Automotive News.
Hyundai will also introduce its advanced Atlas robotic systems at two American manufacturing plants by 2029, marking further technological advancements in production.
Introducing the Upcoming Flagship SUV
Alongside the pickup, Kia plans to launch a new electric SUV positioned as a flagship volume model on a global scale, expected around 2029. While details on its availability in the US remain unclear, this SUV will represent one of three major new global vehicles Kia intends to bring to market.
Currently, the EV9 holds the title of Kia’s electric flagship, built on the Electric Global Modular Platform (E-GMP), which supports several of the brand’s EVs. However, by the decade's end, Kia aims to debut a next-generation EV architecture to further enhance its electric vehicle lineup.
Kia’s EV portfolio is set to grow from 11 to 14 models, including the compact EV1. The majority—nine models—will be SUVs, complemented by three commercial electric vehicles. Despite expanding its electric offerings, Kia now anticipates selling around 1 million EVs annually, a slight decrease from the previous forecast of 1.3 million.
