New Delhi: Kia might have big plans for the rest of this decade, as the Korean carmaker has revealed its mid- to long-term strategy through 2030, detailing quite a few upcoming models, including a mid-size body-on-frame pickup for the United States. There is also a global “flagship” electric SUV. The carmaker presented its global plans at its annual investor day conference.
Kia will offer the new mid-size truck with either an electric or range-extended hybrid powertrain. It will likely share the platform that will underpin Hyundai’s forthcoming pickup, and it might even germinate into a new rugged Kia SUV. The carmaker also wants to double the number of hybrid electric vehicles. It currently offers four, and it is understood they want to take it to eight, and achieve 1.02 million sales by 2030.
Kia’s new ‘flagship SUV
Apart from the new truck, there is a place of interest for us as well. As per Autocar, Kia has said that there will be a ‘flagship volume EV model’ and is one of the three new global vehicles the brand has in its scheme. For now, the EV9 is the brand’s electric flagship, and it rides on the Electric Global Modular Platform, which underpins quite a few models.
Hyundai’s recently revealed Boulder concept could be the basis upon which Kia might pin their pickup truck as well
Kia also plans to launch before the end of the decade a next-generation EV architecture. Kia wants to widen their EV offering from 11 to 14. One of those will be the compact EV1. Nine of them will be SUVs, with three commercial vehicles. Despite Kia expanding their EV portfolio, the carmaker is expected to sell 1 million EVs annually, down from the previous year’s projected 1.3 million.
Of course, a body-on-frame pickup is something expected from Kia. As Hyundai ventures into the segment, it is practical that a different powertrain might be something on the cards where Kia could play. In terms of bringing a body-on-frame SUV in India won’t be a bad idea, with the country showing interest in this body style always. Plus, Kia has a strong footing in India.