Kia’s Tasmun Pickup Truck Challenge to Imported Pickup Trucks
Could it be the Next Santa Cruz in North America?
44-Year Wait for the Kia Pickup Truck Tasmun
Following the Success of the Santa Cruz, Aims for North America
Kia Tasmun does not settle for domestic release
Kia Tasmun is set to be launched in 2025. The Tasmun, based on the images released so far, seems to resemble the front end of the Telluride lineup in the U.S. Considering that the main demand for pickup trucks is in Australia and North America, there seems to be a significant correlation. While the domestic market centered around the Rexton Sports is active, it is expected that Tasmun will not be satisfied with this.
Kia is aiming for steady popularity in North America, Australia, and the Middle East, including Ford Ranger and Chevrolet Colorado, as future competitive models. Ultimately, in order to enter the pickup truck market with a decisive blow compared to equivalent models, it will be necessary to find new meaning in entering the market.
Will Tasmun challenge with an affordable price compared to imported cars?
Although Tasmun has not yet made its debut in Korea, numerous expectations have emerged that it will be able to compete with equivalent models. Especially, there is attention on whether it will attract consumers with a price of around 40 million won in Korea, which is cheaper compared to imported models.
Starting from $27,400 for the Ford Ranger and $29,500 for the Chevrolet Colorado in the U.S., the prices of these models go up to $56,960 and $60,540 respectively. The starting prices for both Ford Ranger and Chevrolet Colorado, which are imported to Korea, are over 70 million won. Although it is difficult to compare with the imported prices in Korea, it is possible to anticipate the price position of Tasmun in the future. It seems that it will compete with a lower price compared to the Ranger and Colorado.
Tasmun Challenges with Strong Driving Performance and Advanced Specifications
Like Hyundai’s Santa Cruz, which can form a low price, Tasmun, which will start from domestic release, does not have the same background. Ultimately, Tasmun must have excellent product competitiveness compared to competing models.
In Korea, pickup trucks focus on payload and cargo space. Tasmun is expected to show a payload capacity similar to that of the Rexton Sports based on the silhouette currently released. However, it is also expected to have driving performance that can satisfy overseas markets that focus on towing capacity and off-road capabilities.
In particular, Kia has prepared the identity of the pickup truck firmly, as seen in the promotional videos showcasing Tasmun’s towing capabilities and off-road performance, which rival American brands. The performance mentioned earlier is a virtue that Tasmun must naturally possess as a pickup truck. In addition, there is a lot of curiosity about the advanced specifications that will be included in Tasmun.
Recent Hyundai Group vehicles, including ccNC and OTA advanced software programs, are expected to be integrated into Tasmun, along with features such as highway driving assistance and parking assistance. There is also a lot of interest in how far autonomous driving technology, including ADAS, will be applied to Tasmun.