Kia Admits Tasman Ute Is Tracking Below First‑Year Sales Goal

Executives cite aggressive discounting alongside a fragmented ute market for the slow start.

Overview

Kia says the 20,000 sales milestone may take longer than 12 months, with 3,716 deliveries recorded to the end of November.
Fleet‑oriented S, SX and SX+ grades are underperforming while higher‑spec X‑Line and X‑Pro trims are selling relatively better.
Kia is pitching deposit contributions of $2,000 on S, SX and SX+ and $4,000 on X‑Line and X‑Pro, as dealers advertise demonstrator discounts exceeding 10 percent.
Single‑cab and cab‑chassis variants are slated for January–February 2026 arrival, with pending corporate and government trials expected to drive a 2026 uplift.
Product planners flag the unusually complex lineup for possible rationalisation if low‑demand variants remain weak.