Is this the Ford F-150 Lightning rival we’ve been waiting for? The first Kia electric pickup was spotted testing in the US as the brand gears up for an EV offensive.

Kia has already confirmed it will launch an electric truck in the US. During its investor day in 2022, Kia revealed plans to launch two electric pickup trucks: one dedicated EV pickup and the other a strategic model for emerging markets.

The electric trucks are part of Kia’s plan to launch two EVs a year and build a complete lineup by 2027.

Kia confirmed in the US, where mid-size SUVs and pickups are popular, “electric versions of these models will be produced locally from 2024.”

After launching its EV9 late last year, the larger electric SUV is already off to a hot start. With a record 1,572 EV9s sold in April, the electric SUV pushed Kia to a new monthly EV sales record, up 144% YOY.

Kia is offering a $7,500 Customer Cash credit, which can amount to $12,400 in savings until US production begins. Meanwhile, Kia is expected to start building the EV9 at its West Point, GA facility this month.

Kia is testing a mysterious electric pickup in the US

Is a new Kia electric pickup set to follow? For the first time, Kia’s EV pickup was spotted testing in the US.

The video from KindelAuto shows a larger-looking pickup with a bold face, similar to the Ford F-150 Lightning. You can clearly see design features pulled from the rugged, big-body EV9.

On the back end, you can see the test model is fitted with lights similar to the Hyundai Santa Cruz. These will likely be updated in the production version.

It will likely include several new Kia design elements, like its new signature “Digital Tiger Face” grille, replacing its old “Tiger Nose” design.

Kia’s new EV will join a growing US electric pickup market with the Tesla Cybertruck, Rivian R1T, Ford F-150 Lightning, and Chevy Silverado EV.

Although Kia has yet to confirm specs, it’s expected to ride on Hyundai’s next-gen EV platform, which is expected to boost range (the EV9 gets up to 304 miles EPA-est range) while slashing costs (the EV9 starts at $54,900).

If you can’t wait for Kia’s electric pickup, Kia is offering massive savings of up to $12,400 on select EV9 models. You can use our link to view deals on the 2024 Kia EV9 at a dealer near you.