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Kia Presents Militarized Tasman Pickup for Tactical Operations at IDEX 2025.
At IDEX 2025, held in Abu Dhabi from February 17 to 21, Kia Motors unveiled its ruggedized, military-spec Tasman 4x4 pickup, designed to meet the specific needs of armed forces. Developed by Kia's Special Vehicle Division, the Tasman is a modified version of the Tasman SUV, adapted for military operations.
The version displayed at IDEX 2025 is a double-cab pickup model, capable of carrying up to five soldiers. (Picture source: Army Recognition)
The vehicle, measuring 5.41 meters long, 1.93 meters wide, and 1.87 meters high, is designed to deliver exceptional performance while being easy to transport and maneuver in challenging environments. With a gross vehicle weight of 3.25 tons, the Tasman can carry a payload of up to 1.1 tons and tow a trailer weighing up to 3.5 tons. Additionally, thanks to its snorkel, it is capable of crossing waters up to 800 mm deep, a significant advantage for missions in rough terrain or flooded areas.
The military version of the Tasman is powered by a 2.2-liter diesel engine producing 210 horsepower, coupled with an eight-speed automatic transmission. While the civilian Tasman is available with various engine options, including a hybrid powertrain, the military version will be exclusively available with a diesel engine, suited to the operational needs of armed forces.
The version displayed at IDEX 2025 is a double-cab pickup model, capable of carrying up to five soldiers. However, the Tasman will also be available in several other configurations: with a cargo bed, a van body (which could serve as an ambulance or repair shop, for example), a flatbed (with a single cab instead of the double cab in other versions), and even as a bare chassis for other manufacturers to add their own custom bodies.
Charles Jang, from Kia’s Special Vehicles Planning Team, stated that the development of the military Tasman is nearly complete, and the vehicle will be offered to the South Korean military as well as international clients. This debut at IDEX 2025 marks a key step in Kia’s strategy to expand its presence in the military vehicle sector, particularly in Asia and the Middle East.
In addition to the Tasman, Kia also showcased its KLTV (Kia Light Tactical Vehicle) and next-generation 2.5-tonne truck chassis at IDEX 2025, which was first presented internationally at the VIDEX 2024 exhibition in Hanoi last December. The KLTV is in mass production for the South Korean military, while the chassis has been widely sold in the Middle East, where manufacturers such as Streit Group use it as the base for their own armored vehicles.
With the introduction of the militarized Tasman and these other models, Kia affirms its commitment to becoming a key player in providing tactical and support vehicles to armed forces worldwide.