Kia Australia remains tight-lipped about dual-cab ute
Despite unprecedented demand in the ute segment in Australia, one of the fastest-growing car brands in Australia is yet to outline its plans to join the booming pick-up market.
Kia Australia remains tight-lipped about the prospect of introducing a dual-cab ute in Australia, despite record growth in the segment and the dominance of the Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger at the top of the sales charts.
When asked if there might be a dual-cab ute on the horizon, Kia Australia boss Damien told Drive: “We’d love to have one, but we have no further information.”
Rumours have circulated for some years that Kia and its South Korean partner brand Hyundai are secretly working on a rival to the Toyota HiLux.
Every time Kia and Hyundai executives in Australia are asked by local media about the top secret project, they end up in hot water with head office.
“It is true that I got into trouble from head office in regard to talking about (the possibility of) light commercial vehicles for our market,” said Mr Meredith, before adding that if such a vehicle were to eventually be sold in Kia showrooms, it would give the brand another sales boost.
The Kia Australia boss says he doesn’t see the popularity of dual-cab utes waning any time soon, however he conceded the increasing popularity of pick-ups had exceeded the expectations of most experts in the car industry.
“You would have had to be a genius,” he said in response to a question about whether industry experts could have better forecast the epic sales growth.
The Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger have been Australia’s top two selling vehicles outright for four of the past five years – and both are poised to top the podium in this year’s sales race.
Indeed, Kia believes the demand for double-cab utes is poised to increase as more Australians holiday at home in the wake of international travel restrictions due to the coronavirus.
“I think (demand) will get stronger to be quite honest,” said Mr Meredith.
“We see that with people in our team who would jump at the chance to drive a Kia light commercial vehicle if there was one, because of their lifestyle and the leisure activities they engage in.
“And I think that is becoming more and more the picture with vehicles of this type. I can only see the segment growing.”
The post Kia Australia remains tight-lipped about dual-cab ute appeared first on Drive.