Kia's New EV Plans Include Two Electric Pickups by 2027

author: Vineeth Joel Patel   

The Flagship Kia EV9 electric SUV will debut in 2023.

Last we heard, Kia was planning to come out with 11 new electric vehicles by 2026. The goal sounded like a lofty one, but in the modern age where everyone's trying to one-up another, Kia's set its sights on a new horizon. The South Korean automaker recently released a product and planning roadmap that lays out how the automaker becomes a leader in the all-electric segment.

Kia Sets New EV Goals

Kia is targeting 2030 as the date for when it hopes to sell 4 million vehicles annually, which is a massive increase over its 2022 target, but more importantly, it wants electrified vehicles to account for 25 percent of its total sales. By the end of the decade, Kia aims to have 50 percent of all of the vehicles it sells to have some sort of electrification.

These are even bolder plans than before. And reaching them won't be easy. To do so, Kia has a new strategy that includes 14 new electric vehicles by 2027. The automaker will be coming out with two new EVs every year starting in 2023. Two of those electric vehicles include pickup trucks. There's not a lot of information on the trucks beyond that one will be a mainstream model, while the other is reportedly a "strategic model for emerging markets."

Most Vehicles Remain A Mystery

Kia doesn't have a pickup truck on sale, which makes us question what kind of vehicle it has in mind. Our best guess is that Kia will utilize the Hyundai Santa Fe and find a way to stuff an electric powertrain into the compact option. We don't see the automaker going up against the likes of the Ford F-150 Lightning, Rivian R1T, or Chevrolet Silverado 1500 EV, as those are full-size options.

The brand's first all-electric vehicle that fits into its new plan is the EV6 electric crossover. That vehicle is just starting to arrive at dealerships. The next electric vehicle will be the EV9 SUV (pictured above), which we saw at the Los Angeles Auto Show last year. The vehicle we saw was roughly the same size as the three-row Telluride that's currently on sale. The SUV is expected to have a range of approximately 335 miles and have fast-charging capability to get able 80 percent of its charge back in just 30 minutes. The EV9 will also be the first EV to come with Kia's AutoMode semi-autonomous driver-assist system.

Vineeth Joel Patel

Joel Patel has been covering all aspects of the automotive industry for four years as an editor and freelance writer for various websites. When it comes to cars, he enjoys covering the merger between technology and cars. In his spare time, Joel likes to watch baseball, work on his car, and try new foods