Kia’s first pickup truck, the Tasman, made a strong impression at an Australian police and emergency services event. The automaker leveraged the occasion to showcase Tasman’s capabilities as a law enforcement and rescue vehicle while exploring opportunities in the local public procurement market.
On Wednesday, Kia unveiled the Tasman as a sponsor at the 19th Australasian Police and Emergency Services Games, held from March 15 to 22 in Hobart, Australia. The Tasman stood out with its striking design, featuring red and blue beacon lights and a checkered pattern with police insignia.
This large-scale sporting event brings together nearly 2,000 law enforcement and emergency personnel worldwide, including police officers and firefighters. Kia used the event to highlight Tasman’s versatility and potential as a police and emergency response vehicle, aiming to expand its presence in Australia’s government fleet market and beyond.
The Tasman, named after the Tasman Sea between Australia and New Zealand, is Kia’s in-house-developed mid-size pickup truck. It features a 2.2-liter turbo diesel engine, rugged construction, high ground clearance, and an eight-speed automatic transmission, making it well-suited for tackling wildfires and flood response. Its spacious cargo bed further enhances its viability as a police and emergency service vehicle.
Kia has high hopes for the Tasman in Australia’s government fleet sector, encouraged by the success of the Kia Stinger as a highway patrol vehicle and the strong local demand for the Tasman. Pre-orders surpassed 20,000 units last year, accounting for 80% of Kia’s annual sales target of 25,000 units in Australia. This figure outpaces the Mazda BT-50’s sales of 17,526 units, making Tasman a strong contender in the competitive pickup market.
An industry analyst noted, “By unveiling a police-modified Tasman in Australia, Kia is clearly targeting the country’s government procurement market. If selected for official police and emergency fleets, it could significantly boost Kia’s regional brand presence.”
