Kia Corp., South Korea’s second-largest automaker, announced impressive early sales figures for its first pickup truck, the Kia Tasman. The company reported selling over 4,000 units of the Tasman in less than a month since its release.
According to company representatives, the Tasman accounted for approximately 30% of all pickup truck sales in South Korea last month. The vehicle officially launched in the domestic market on February 13th, meaning this sales milestone was achieved in just 17 days.
The news comes as the overall pickup truck market in South Korea has seen declining sales in recent years. In 2024, the Korea Automobile Manufacturers Association reports that five major automakers—Hyundai Motor Co., Kia, GM Korea Co., Renault Korea Motors Co., and KG Mobility Corp.—collectively sold 13,475 pickup trucks. This figure marks a continued decrease from a high of 42,619 units sold in 2019, with sales figures dropping to 38,117 in 2020, 29,567 in 2021, 28,753 in 2022, and 17,455 in 2023.
Industry analysts suggest the domestic pickup truck market has been limited by the relatively sparse model options available from these five automakers. The Kia Tasman’s introduction, therefore, is seen as potentially revitalizing consumer interest.
Prior to the Tasman’s release, only four pickup truck models were available in South Korea, with two coming from KGM and the other two from GM Korea.
The Kia Tasman made its global debut at the 2024 Jeddah International Motor Show in Saudi Arabia. The all-wheel-drive Tasman is equipped with a 2.5-liter turbocharged gasoline engine, producing 281 horsepower, and features an eight-speed automatic transmission.
