There's Bad News About Kia's New Pickup Truck

Now that theHyundai Santa Cruzhas hit the market, we've been waiting for Kia to unveil its own long-rumored pickup truck. For years, Kia has hinted it wants tobuild a dual-cab "ute"for the Australian market to take on the mid-sizeFord Rangerand Toyota Hilux pickup trucks. However, speaking with Australia'sCars Guide, Kia Australia's chief operating officer Damien Meredith has downplayed the prospect of Kia entering the pickup market.

"I think it's probably a long shot," Meredith told the publication when asked about the long-rumored Kia ute. The development of a Kia pickup appeared to have been given the green light back in 2020 for a possible 2022 launch.

Kia's executives seemed excited when told Meredith told them the automaker would sell 20,000 units a year. "We put together a plan about four years ago and said look we believe we can do this many, and Mr. Song nearly fell off his chair and said that's impossible you couldn't do that many. But he started counting then he started believing," Meredith said at the time.

"We haven't had any definitive answer from Kia headquarters," Meredith said when asked for an update. "Every time I see him, he says: 'I understand what you said Damian, but let's just wait and see.'" Unfortunately, entering the pickup market doesn't appear to be a high priority for Kia right now. This perhaps isn't surprising as Kia is focusing on expanding its EV lineup with new models like the flagship EV9previewed by a new conceptat the LA Auto Show.