After launching its Korando E-Motion, SsangYong has another vehicle in mind for an electric vehicle transformation: its Musso ute.
Korean outlet Auto Post reports SsangYong’s purchaser, Edison Motors, wants to build an electric version of the Musso, known in Korea as the Rexton Sports.
It would reportedly use a 110-220kWh battery and offer range of between 550km and 1100km.
It’s unclear whether said range figures are on the stricter WLTP test cycle.
In January, electric bus manufacturer Edison Motors and SsangYong signed a business agreement to strengthen cooperation between each company’s engineers, with Edison Motors announcing it supported electrification of all models.
Development has reportedly started on the ute, and Edison Motors has reportedly said it could bring it to market within a year once its acquisition of SsangYong is complete.
Edison and SsangYong have reportedly signed the final deal but Korean news agency Pulse reports the company is still in court receivership.
To advance from this stage, the court will need to approve Edison’s rehabilitation plans for the company.
It reportedly needs approval from three-quarters of SsangYong’s securities right holders, two-thirds of its creditors, and half of its shareholders, though creditors have reportedly objected to the proposed debt restructuring and payment scheme.
If it can get its Toyota HiLux-sized ute to market quickly, minnow brand SsangYong could get the jump on larger automakers.
In the Musso’s class, there are few electric options and they’re all Chinese.
LDV’s eT60, which is being produced in right-hand drive, packs a 130kW/310Nm electric motor and an 88.5kWh battery pack.
It offers 535km of range, but this is on the lenient NEDC cycle. It’s also rear-wheel drive-only.
Dongfeng also sells an electric ute in China based on the current Nissan Navara, called the Rich 6 EV.
Introduced in 2020, it features a single electric motor with 119kW of power and 420Nm of torque plus a 67.9kWh battery. It has a claimed 403km of range, also on the NEDC cycle.
The activity in the fledgling electric ute market has been focused more at the larger end of the spectrum, with Rivian launching its R1T, GMC its Hummer EV, and Ford about to commence North American deliveries of its F-150 Lightning.
Ford F-150 Lightning
Chevrolet Silverado EV
Additionally, Chevrolet has revealed its Silverado EV and Ram has teased its 1500 BEV.
But the segment below could soon be abuzz with activity.
Kia says it’ll launch two electric pickup trucks by 2027: “a dedicated electric pickup truck and a strategic model for emerging markets”.
It’s likely one or both of these would be sized similarly to the Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux.
Ram is also planning a vehicle similar in size to these models, based not on the 1500 BEV’s STLA Frame architecture but rather the STLA Large architecture that’ll underpin vehicles like Dodge’s upcoming electric muscle car.
Pictured: SsangYong J100
Toyota also previewed an electric pickup late last year among 15 other concepts, and it appears to point to a future electric Tacoma. The Tacoma is the company’s North American counterpart to the HiLux.
Before SsangYong introduces an electric Musso, it could have at least two electric SUVs on sale.
SsangYong has already commenced production of its Korando E-Motion crossover, and has released sketches of two other all-electric SUVs in development: the KR10 and the J100.
The company has previously indicated an electric ute would follow the J100’s launch.
Keyword: SsangYong planning electric Musso ute with over 500km of range - report