Hybrid or PHEV Tasman ute on cards as CO2 targets "get tougher"
Kia says a hybrid or PHEV Tasman ute is on cards, but first the ICE version must prove itself.
Kia Tasman ute (ICE model shown)
A hybrid (HEV) or plug-in hybrid (PHEV) version of the Kia Tasman ute, set to launch in a purely internal combustion engine (ICE) format in Australia in July, could arrive here within three years.
At least that’s the hope of Kia Australia, which at a media event on the Gold Coast on Tuesday acknowledged that the first stages of the revised New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) – which from July will see carmakers fined if they do not meet targets on average fleet emissions —is “a little bit kind” to commercial vehicles.
Kia Australia’s GM of product planning, Roland Rivero, said the company's electric vehicle mix will initially help it meet targets, but that as “targets get tougher,” Kia will explore other avenues.
“We are very interested,” said Rivero of a hybrid or PHEV Tasman ute.
First, though, Kia wants the ICE version of the Tasman to prove itself in the Aussie market, and Kia won’t back down on specs such as 3.5-tonne towing.
But utes contribute considerably to carmaker emissions, and the revised NVES, which was passed in 2024, starts with a light touch when it comes to light commercial vehicles. The limits for light commercial vehicles in 2025 are 210gm CO2/km, but by 2028 this figure will come down to 122gm/km.
Kia will open orders for the ICE Tasman in coming months. The Korean brand does not have any plug-in hybrid models in our market, but does sell hybrid electric (HEV) versions of the Carnival MPV, Niro, Sorento and Sportage.
If charged regularly as intended, lab tests show that PHEVs have much lower emissions than hybrids, which cannot be plugged in to charge from electricity. Kia’s 2022 year-model Niro was sold as a PHEV and a HEV, with the former’s CO2 emissions coming in at less than a third of the latter’s (23gm CO2/km compared to the HEV’s 91gm CO2/km.)
PHEV utes are also proving an attractive option for drivers. In February, the newly arrived plug-in hybrid BYD Shark 6, which features a 29.6kWh battery, outsold all utes in its class bar the Ford Ranger and the Toyota Hilux. It is also now joined by the GWM Cannon Alpha PHEV, which sports a 37.12kWh battery.
Both are examples of big battery PHEVs with vehicle-to-load technology which can power devices and appliances for days in the case of blackouts. The Ford Ranger PHEV, which has a smaller 11.8kWh battery, also offers this technology.
However, the ability of PHEVs to help Australians lower transport-related emissions, which account for almost a fifth of total carbon emissions, is decimated if owners and fleets fail to plug them in and run them more often on fuel.
Kia expects around 11,000 EV sales across its e-GMP based electric cars (which excludes the Niro EV) in 2025, about 12 per cent of total expected sales.
“The EV5 very much opened the gate in terms of that EV customer en masse into the Kia brand,” said Kia Australia COO Damien Meredith.
The EV5 is the number one test drive vehicle in Kia’s entire fleet, not just the EV fleet. To date in 2025, Kia has sold 689 units of the EV5, claiming the title of third most popular medium SUV priced above $60,000.
At least that’s the hope of Kia Australia, which at a media event on the Gold Coast on Tuesday acknowledged that the first stages of the revised New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) – which from July will see carmakers fined if they do not meet targets on average fleet emissions —is “a little bit kind” to commercial vehicles.
Kia Australia’s GM of product planning, Roland Rivero, said the company's electric vehicle mix will initially help it meet targets, but that as “targets get tougher,” Kia will explore other avenues.
“We are very interested,” said Rivero of a hybrid or PHEV Tasman ute.
First, though, Kia wants the ICE version of the Tasman to prove itself in the Aussie market, and Kia won’t back down on specs such as 3.5-tonne towing.
But utes contribute considerably to carmaker emissions, and the revised NVES, which was passed in 2024, starts with a light touch when it comes to light commercial vehicles. The limits for light commercial vehicles in 2025 are 210gm CO2/km, but by 2028 this figure will come down to 122gm/km.
Kia will open orders for the ICE Tasman in coming months. The Korean brand does not have any plug-in hybrid models in our market, but does sell hybrid electric (HEV) versions of the Carnival MPV, Niro, Sorento and Sportage.
PHEVs are an NVES loophole
Plug-in hybrid versions of utes have seen high initial interest and are an attractive option for carmakers to help meet tightening limits.If charged regularly as intended, lab tests show that PHEVs have much lower emissions than hybrids, which cannot be plugged in to charge from electricity. Kia’s 2022 year-model Niro was sold as a PHEV and a HEV, with the former’s CO2 emissions coming in at less than a third of the latter’s (23gm CO2/km compared to the HEV’s 91gm CO2/km.)
PHEV utes are also proving an attractive option for drivers. In February, the newly arrived plug-in hybrid BYD Shark 6, which features a 29.6kWh battery, outsold all utes in its class bar the Ford Ranger and the Toyota Hilux. It is also now joined by the GWM Cannon Alpha PHEV, which sports a 37.12kWh battery.
Both are examples of big battery PHEVs with vehicle-to-load technology which can power devices and appliances for days in the case of blackouts. The Ford Ranger PHEV, which has a smaller 11.8kWh battery, also offers this technology.
However, the ability of PHEVs to help Australians lower transport-related emissions, which account for almost a fifth of total carbon emissions, is decimated if owners and fleets fail to plug them in and run them more often on fuel.
Kia sets sights on electrifying customer audience
Kia is set to officially launch its fifth all-electric model in the form of the EV3, joining the EV5, EV6, EV9 and Niro EV.Kia expects around 11,000 EV sales across its e-GMP based electric cars (which excludes the Niro EV) in 2025, about 12 per cent of total expected sales.
“The EV5 very much opened the gate in terms of that EV customer en masse into the Kia brand,” said Kia Australia COO Damien Meredith.
The EV5 is the number one test drive vehicle in Kia’s entire fleet, not just the EV fleet. To date in 2025, Kia has sold 689 units of the EV5, claiming the title of third most popular medium SUV priced above $60,000.
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