SsangYong Muso EV Pickup Announced: Hyundai and Kia Lose to KGM in Korea’s First Electric Pickup

Muso EV pickup, the newest product of KGM (formerly SsangYong) was introduced. This is the first Korean electric van that challenged the competition of Hyundai and Kia in this field before the release of their products.

KGM, which will be SsangYong’s new name from 2023 after being rescued from bankruptcy by KG Group, pioneered the launch of the Muso EV pickup as the first Korean electric pickup truck. This achievement comes as Hyundai and Kia also have plans to launch all-electric vans.

KGM; From SsangYong to pioneering Korean electric vans

From 2023, KGM is the new name of SsangYong, which was rescued from bankruptcy in 2020 by the KG Group, a Korean conglomerate.

The Muso EV pickup is a two-cabin mid-size pick-up and is completely different from the current petrol/diesel Muso (body-on-chassis platform) launched in 2018. Muso EV is based on the unibody design of KGM crossovers.

Muso EV pickup technical review: battery, performance and features

The Muso EV pickup comes with an 80.6 kWh lithium iron phosphate battery. The front-wheel drive (FWD) model has a range of 420 km (261 miles based on the WLTP cycle) with 204 horsepower and 339 Nm of torque. The dual-motor all-wheel drive (AWD) version offers a range of 379 km (236 miles WLTP) with a combined output of 357 hp and 630 Nm of torque. This car supports fast charging up to 300 kW.

Muso EV’s maximum carrying capacity is 907 kg (805 kg for AWD) and its towing capacity is 1814 kg. These figures for cargo are comparable to popular mid-size pickups such as the Ford Ranger and Toyota Tacoma, but its towing capacity is lower. KGM has no plans to launch this car in the US market. Its starting price in Europe is about 42,000 euros (approximately $48,000).

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Future plans of Hyundai and Kia for the electric van market

While the Muso EV pickup won’t be available in the U.S., Hyundai and Kia are developing new midsize pickups for the market that will be introduced later this decade. Kia has confirmed that its electric van will have strong towing and off-road capabilities, and will offer superior interior and cargo space, along with advanced entertainment and safety features.

Hyundai has also confirmed a midsize pickup above the compact Santa Cruz and has hinted at developing range-extending electric motors, where a small internal combustion engine serves as a generator.