The Nation's First Electric Pickup 'Musso EV' Launched… Kwak Jae-sun: "I Will Make the Name Proud"

Rexton and Musso Integrated as a Unified Brand
Equipped with Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) Battery
400 km Range on a Single Charge

KG Mobility (KGM) launched Korea's first electric pickup truck, the 'Musso EV,' on the 5th. Reviving the 'Musso' brand discontinued in 2005, it embodies the 'tradition' of pickup trucks in an electric SUV.

The new car launch event held at the Pyeongtaek headquarters in Gyeonggi Province was attended by KGM Chairman Kwak Jae-sun, CEOs Hwang Ki-young and Park Jang-ho, along with key executives.

Kwak Jae-seon, Chairman of KGM, is giving a greeting at the Musso EV new car launch event held at the Pyeongtaek headquarters in Gyeonggi Province. (Photo by Oh Hyun-gil)

Chairman Kwak Jae-sun of KGM said, "The Musso EV is a very meaningful vehicle as it is the first business approval I granted after becoming chairman," adding, "I feel a special sentiment because I decided to make it and approved it myself." He continued, "Until now, KGM has not met the diverse expectations of consumers, but from now on, no matter what difficulties arise, we will prioritize consumers and fully address their inconveniences and demands."

He also stated, "I was the one who revived the name Actyon, and I also revived Musso," emphasizing, "Just because we went through difficulties in the past doesn't mean we should label the products with a bad past," and added, "We will make better Actyons and better Mussos to make those names proud."

Chairman Kwak emphasized, "We plan to evolve with the Torres Hybrid, Actyon Hybrid, and Rexton gasoline models, and reconfigure powertrains according to consumer needs," adding, "KGM's reason for existence is to make vehicles loved by consumers worldwide."

KGM Musso EV (Provided by KGM)

KGM inherits the tradition of the Musso, launched in 1993, and presents it as a newly integrated brand. Accordingly, all pickup trucks will be rebranded under the Musso name, and the Rexton Sports and Rexton Sports Khan will be renamed 'Musso Sports' and 'Musso Khan,' respectively.

The newly introduced Musso EV combines the economy of electric vehicles with the versatility of pickups, making it practical not only for leisure but also for urban driving.

Equipped with a lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery, which has a lower risk of fire, it is designed to withstand external impacts. The battery capacity is 80.6 kWh, achieving a single-charge range of 400 km and a combined energy efficiency of 4.2 km/kWh (based on 2WD with 17-inch wheels). It can be fast-charged to 80% in 24 minutes and features Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) functionality.

A multi-battery safety management system (BMS) is applied to enhance battery safety. It checks the battery status every 10 minutes even while parked to prevent accidents and automatically connects to the nearest fire station in emergencies.

KGM Musso EV (Provided by KGM)

With a 152.2 kW front-wheel-drive motor, it delivers a maximum output of 207 horsepower and a peak torque of 34.6 kgf·m. The all-wheel-drive (AWD) model offers 413 horsepower and a maximum torque of 64.9 kgf·m. The AWD model is scheduled for release in May.

The deck can carry up to 500 kg, and various accessories such as a deck top, roll bar, and deck sliding cover have been developed for versatile use. Leveraging over 20 years of pickup expertise, KGM has added a towing capacity of 1.8 tons and a 'Trailer Sway Control' function to minimize lateral sway and support steering control during towing. Off-road capabilities include an approach angle of 192°, departure angle of 23°, and a minimum ground clearance of 187 mm.

Safety features include Intelligent Adaptive Cruise Control, Intelligent Vehicle Speed Control, automatic lane change function, forward collision warning, and emergency braking assist.

A 12.3-inch digital cluster and a 12.3-inch KGM Link navigation system are connected, applying a panoramic wide screen. The next-generation infotainment platform 'Athena 2.0' intuitively displays various driving information. Along with the Musso launch, KGM will rename its connectivity service from 'Infocon' to 'KGM Link' and plans to enhance vehicle management efficiency.

KGM Musso EV (Provided by KGM)

KGM explained that the Musso EV offers better economy compared to the recently launched Kia Tasman. Park Kyung-jun, head of KGM's domestic business division, said, "While the Tasman's fuel efficiency is 8.6 km/L, the Musso EV's energy efficiency is 5.0 km/kWh, saving 14 million KRW in fuel costs over 100,000 km in 5 years," adding, "This amounts to 43% of the vehicle price."

The Musso EV is sold nationwide through dealerships and online. Classified as an eco-friendly cargo vehicle, it has a price competitiveness advantage over internal combustion engine pickup trucks. The price is 48 million KRW for the MX trim and 50.5 million KRW for the Black Edge trim. With a national subsidy of 6.52 million KRW and a local government subsidy of 1.86 million KRW (estimated for Seoul), the actual purchase price is 39.62 million KRW. Small business owners can benefit from VAT refunds and other incentives, lowering the purchase price to the 33 million KRW range.

The online-exclusive model, 'Musso EV Special Edition,' comes standard with Alpine audio and a 3D surround view monitoring system. Its price is the same as the MX trim, offering about 1.8 million KRW in benefits.

KGM Musso EV (Provided by KGM)

KGM Musso EV (Provided by KGM)