It's official. Kia is entering the highly competitive body-on-frame pickup market in the United States. The automaker made the big announcement during its 2026 investor day presentation, where it also outlined plans for future growth in North America.As for details of the truck, there's still much to learn. But Kia already has a few things up its sleeve that we can investigate. What You Need To Know About The Tasman Pickup KiaKia mentions hybrid and extended-range versions of this new truck, meaning it will be at least somewhat different for the United States compared to what's currently on sale elsewhere. The Tasman hybrid would allegedly adopt the same hybrid powertrain as the Genesis GV80, making more than 300 hp."Kia will also further strengthen its pickup truck lineup by 2030, following its entry into global emerging markets with the launch of the Tasman pickup last year. Looking ahead, the company plans to further expand its pickup lineup by adding a Body-on-Frame pickup truck with HEV and EREV variants by 2030, targeting core markets in North America."- Kia press releaseThe current Tasman is 213 inches long and rides on a 128.7-inch wheelbase. For comparison, a 2026 Toyota Tacoma Double Cab is also 213 inches long in its short-bed configuration (226.2 inches for the long-bed version) and rides on a 131.9-inch wheelbase.Due to the infamous Chicken Tax that puts a 25% tariff on foreign-built pickups, expect Kia to build the pickup in North America. Local production gives the automaker a chance to tailor the truck specifically to this market. The model launching by 2030 means that those details should come out soon.Being a body-on-frame pickup, Kia's North American truck wouldn't compete against the corporate sibling, Hyundai's compact Santa Cruz truck with unibody underpinnings. Instead, the rig appears to be taking on midsize models, such as the Tacoma, the Ford Ranger, and the Chevrolet Colorado. Of course, with Hyundai deep into plans for its own body-on-frame midsizer in America, it is highly likely that Kia's version will share at least some components, if not nearly everything.KiaThe Tasman comes with impressive tech for the segment. It's available with Kia's Highways Driving Assist 2 package that allows for the advanced driver assist systems to work even while towing. The cabin (above) also features a panoramic digital display with screens for the instruments and infotainment.Elsewhere in the world, the Tasman hasn't been very successful. In Australia, Kia aimed to sell 20,000 of them a year but had moved only 3,700 by July 2025. Adapting the vehicle for the US could be a way to spread out development costs. Kia's Global Strategy CarBuzzThe Tasman wasn't Kia's only announcement during the investor day presentation. The company aims to sell 3.35 million vehicles worldwide in 2026 and grow to 4.13 million units by 2030. In the United States alone, the target for 2030 is to sell 1.02 million vehicles, an increase from 852,155 deliveries in 2025.The planned growth by 2030 includes launching nine new combustion-powered offerings and expanding the hybrid range to 13 models. The expansion would increase the global EV lineup to 14 models, including two passenger vehicles, nine SUVs, and three commercial models. The company hopes to reach 1 million annual EV sales by 2030. In addition, the hybrid offerings would grow to 13 vehicles by 2030, including eight in the US.Kia has some significant technology goals, too. The company aims to have an urban autonomous vehicle with Level 2++ capability ready by early 2029. There's also a next-generation EV platform under development that would use fifth-generation batteries with up to a 15% higher energy density, 40% increase in capacity, and 9% improvement in electric motor output. These underpinnings would "significantly enhance both product performance and cost competitiveness," according to the investor day statement.Given these promises, it's going to be interesting to watch Kia over the next four years to see if it can hit these lofty goals for 2030. Entering a new segment requires stealing customers from other brands, and there are few vehicles with more dedicated fans than pickups. People love their Tacomas and Rangers, so the Kia pickup has to be even better to find buyers.
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