Kia to enter pickup truck market

Kia Corp., South Korea’s second-largest automaker, announced on Thursday its first pickup truck’s name “The Kia Tasman.”

The name Tasman is derived from Tasmania, an island located at the southernmost tip of Australia, and Tasman Strait.

Kia explained that the name reflects the pioneering spirit and the mystique image of nature coexisting on the island, emphasizing that the pickup truck is suitable for various lifestyles.

Kia plans to launch the Tasman sequentially from next year in South Korea, Australia, Asia, and the Middle East.

The intention is to target outdoor leisure lovers domestically and off-road vehicle enthusiasts internationally.

Write to Nan-Sae Bin at binthere@hankyung.com