[Interview] Karim Habib Vice President: "Tasman Embodies 50 Years of Kia's Special-Purpose Vehicle Development History"

On-site Interview at Saudi Motor Show Unveiling Tasman
Tasman Design Goal: 'Honest Pickup'
Strong Impression and Highly Practical Design
Chairman Chung Euisun Sends 'Infinite Trust' to Design Center

"Through the pickup truck Tasman, we aimed to convey Kia's brand value, which has been developing special-purpose vehicles for over 50 years."

On the 29th of last month (local time) at the Saudi Arabia 'Jeddah Motor Show,' Karim Habib, Vice President in charge of Kia Global Design, who met on site, introduced the newly unveiled Tasman and said this. Vice President Habib said, "Kia has a long history of developing everything from Bongo to military vehicles," adding, "Tasman was developed as a pickup vehicle that well reflects the characteristics of the Kia brand."

Since being designated as a defense industry company in 1973, Kia has been manufacturing special-purpose vehicles such as military vehicles for over 50 years. It developed the 1-ton truck Bongo, a practical multipurpose vehicle, and recently has been actively entering the purpose-built mobility (PBV) business to inherit Kia's special-purpose vehicle DNA.

Karim Habib, Vice President of Kia Global Design
[Photo by Kia]

At this Jeddah Motor Show, Kia unveiled the Tasman, its first-ever brand pickup truck, for the world premiere. Kia applied a progressive yet robust exterior design to the pickup truck Tasman. The interior was designed to emphasize comfort and practicality. The cargo space was maximized, and advanced driver assistance systems were equipped to enhance convenience.

Vice President Habib summarized Kia's brand design concept as progressive yet simple and responsible design. He said, "Entering a new segment (pickup trucks), we placed importance on making the most traditional and honest pickup," adding, "To achieve this, we clearly distinguished the engine, passenger cabin, and cargo bed."

To highlight the advantages of a pickup truck that drives off-road without hesitation, emphasis was placed on the fender design (the parts surrounding the wheels). He said, "To further emphasize the off-road aspect, we applied a horizontal structure fender to provide more space for wheel movement."

Also, to give Tasman a strong impression, the volume of the vehicle's front end was maximized. He said, "Increasing the size of the grille is an easy way to give a strong impression," adding, "Instead of enlarging the grille, we focused on making the volume of the vehicle's front end appear larger."

Kia Tasman
Photo by Kia

The Kia design team also considered designs to enhance passenger convenience and space utilization. Tasman is the first in its class to apply a sliding-linked reclining function to the second-row seats. As the backrest reclines, the seated portion moves forward about 6 cm. This widens the angle between the backrest and seat to allow second-row passengers to sit comfortably.

Vice President Habib said, "The legroom is best in its class, and the second-row seats can recline backward, allowing comfortable seating even on long trips," adding, "There is also additional container cargo space available when the rear seats are lifted."

When asked about Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Chung Eui-sun's reaction to the Tasman design, he said, "All executives place infinite trust in the design center and listen carefully to what we aim to achieve." He added, "Sometimes we propose ideas from the customer's perspective, but it is not to the extent of changing the major principles set by the design center."