The date is set. The plan around it is not. While Kia debates whether to hand its Brazilian business over to direct control from Korean headquarters, local chief and brand importer José Luiz Gandini told Motor1 Brasil, straight-faced, that the company will still unveil its first mid-size pickup, the Kia Tasman, on August 17. Sales dates and deliveries? Not a word.
And that makes it the exception, not the rule. Kia's Brazilian lineup is shrinking in real time. Back in November 2025, the brand promised eight new models — the K4, PV5, and refreshed Stonic and Sorento among them. The K4 was supposed to reach dealers in the first half of 2026. That deadline has already passed, and there's still no truck. According to Motor1, homologation delays and rising operating costs are to blame — and now the K4, PV5, and Stonic could slip all the way to 2027. Against that backdrop, the Tasman is the only one keeping its word.
Brazil is getting a double-cab Tasman with a body-on-frame chassis, all-wheel drive, an eight-speed automatic, and a 2.2-liter turbodiesel producing 210 hp and 441 Nm. The numbers open strong: the Chevrolet S10 makes 207 hp, and the Toyota Hilux trails the Korean truck by 6 hp. But bring up torque, and the triumph turns into a compromise. The S10 delivers around 510 Nm, the Hilux roughly 499 Nm. The debut numbers are convincing. Revolutionary, they are not.
The bed holds 1,173 liters, and global versions can tow trailers up to 3.5 tons. Payload capacity, trim levels, and exact equipment for the Brazilian trucks remain an open question — one that depends on local certification wrapping up.
August 17 will only be the prologue. The real test comes when a price list lands and actual delivery dates appear. And Brazilian buyers won't just be comparing horsepower and infotainment screens — they'll be weighing dealer networks, parts availability, and resale value five years down the road. The Tasman already has its debut date. A real commercial offer? Not yet.
