Kia ute delayed

A 'ladder-frame' pick-up from Kia to rival the Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger in Australia is not likely to be seen before 2023 – a year further down the track from the previous best guess.

During the launch of the updated Kia Sportage, Damien Meredith, Chief Operating Officer for Kia Australia would not confirm that the light commercial vehicle would definitely go on sale in Australia.

But the Kia exec was very clear that when the one-tonne pick-up arrives, the importer will be raising its hand to sell the car in Australia.

"I'd love a range of light commercials," Meredith admitted. Asked by motoring.com.au whether the pick-up development was continuing, the Kia boss confirmed that to be the case.

"There's still talk of that [a ute] being developed. There's been no further strong statement out of Korea in regards to that. We're just waiting. I'm sure it will happen, we just don't know when."

There's one problem though. It's the best part of five years into the future before we'll see the Kia ute here, and that's a year later than previously suggested.

"It would probably be about 2023," Meredith replied, when asked for a rough guess as to when the vehicle will begin to reach global markets.

Meredith's colleague and general manager of product planning for Kia Australia, Roland Rivero believes that while the iLoad is exclusive to Hyundai and unlikely to be badge-engineered for Kia, the ladder-frame pick-up would be shared between the two brands.