Kia Tasman name officially confirmed for Korean car-maker’s first ute

Kia has today formally announced its first global pick-up will indeed be called the Kia Tasman, simultaneously releasing a new teaser to commemorate the occasion.

The Tasman nameplate has been one of the worst-kept secrets in recent memory, given it was the only non-EV model name to be trademarked by Kia Australia in the past 12 months.

Local Kia chief Damien Meredith also inadvertently let the cat out of the bag in a recent interview with Carsales, when he referred to the upcoming ute directly as the Tasman.

“It wouldn’t have changed a thing with Tasman, because we’re confident…,” he said when discussing any possible impacts the federal government’s 2025 New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) may have on the project.

The revelation came as no surprise, with the Tasman name also being loosely teased in the Korean brand’s star-studded TV advertisement heralding the upcoming ute and kick-starting a long and no doubt elaborate teaser campaign.

Now the Tasman name has been formally confirmed for Kia’s first ute globally, ahead of its rollout in markets including Australia, Korea, Africa and Middle East from 2025, following intense lobbying for such a model over several years by Kia Australia – which first proposed the name – and an extensive development program conducted in both Korea and Down Under.

Indeed, Australia will be the Tasman’s single biggest market worldwide, with Kia expecting to sell more than 20,000 units per annum – which would push Kia Australia ahead of ahead of Mazda, Ford and Mitsubishi to lie behind only the all-conquering Toyota on the sales charts.

“Selected from a pool of names sourced from Kia’s global markets, ‘Tasman’ was initially proposed by Kia Australia and ultimately chosen for its connection to the Tasman Sea and Dutch explorer Abel Tasman, who discovered the rugged landscapes of Tasmania,” said Kia Australia.

“Each of these elements lends itself to a spirit of enduring toughness, grit, and resilience, reflecting the rugged character and matching capabilities of the Kia Tasman.”

Meredith said he was proud the Australian influence was being reflected in the nameplate of the all-new ute, which will be Kia’s first ever rival for the country’s three most popular vehicles – the Ford Ranger, Toyota HiLux and Isuzu D-MAX.

“It’s very rewarding that it has been granted an Australian-inspired name befitting its personality,” he said.

“We have strong ambitions for Tasman in our market, and the fact that its name has such distinct links to our region is evidence of Kia Australia’s instrumental role in its development and future success.”

The Korean-made, Australian-inspired pick-up will be revealed towards the end of this year before it enters local showrooms in mid-2025 in a range of diesel-powered body styles, all likely to be backed by competitive pricing and a seven-year warranty.

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