Kia is reportedly preparing a significant update for its Tasman ute, with leaked internal documents revealing plans to improve the model and potentially expand the range with new variants. First reported by The Korean Car Blog, the document originated from Kia’s Employment Stability Committee and outlines the South Korean manufacturer’s production plans for 2028 and 2029.

Among the revelations are plans for an updated Tasman, an all-new EV7 electric large SUV, and next-generation versions of the Sorento large SUV and Carnival people mover. It’s the Tasman that could undergo some of the most important changes, with Kia reportedly reviewing “product improvements” and an “expansion of derivative models” for its first dual-cab ute.

The news follows a difficult introduction for the Tasman in Australia, where its unconventional styling and the competitive segment it sits in have contributed to its sales falling short of Kia’s initial expectations. Before its launch, Kia Australia was targeting 20,000 Tasman sales annually – which would have placed it among the country’s most popular utes alongside the Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux – but just 3998 examples were sold in the first 10 months of 2026.

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Kia has already acknowledged the need to improve the Tasman and while the leaked document doesn’t specify exactly what improvements are planned, a redesigned front is one possibility. Additional powertrain options could also be introduced, including a plug-in hybrid to compete with the increasingly popular BYD Shark 6 and Ford Ranger PHEV.

A new SUV based on the Tasman’s ladder-frame underpinnings is also another possibility, which Kia has previously confirmed it was investigating. That would give it a direct rival to the Ford Everest, Toyota LandCruiser Prado and Isuzu MU-X, although production has yet to be confirmed.

Elsewhere, the document revealed that Kia is preparing to introduce its first EV7 electric SUV, which is expected to sit between the EV6 and EV9 in Kia’s electric vehicle range, and could offer buyers another family-focused electric SUV.

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The leaked production plans also point to an all-new Sorento Hybrid and next-generation Carnival Hybrid entering production in 2028. Interestingly, Kia is also reportedly planning a hydrogen fuel-cell version of the Carnival for 2029, potentially becoming the brand’s first production hydrogen-powered passenger vehicle.

Concrete plans for the updated Kia Tasman, Sorento and Carnival, as well as the first EV7, are yet to be revealed. But considering the speed of Kia’s product development team, we’re likely to see at least some of them in 2027.