Kia Begins Mass Production of Next-Gen Military Tactical Vehicle in South Korea

Seoul : South Korean automaker Kia has officially commenced mass production of its next-generation military medium tactical vehicle, marking a major milestone in its defense manufacturing journey. The rollout ceremony for the new Kia Medium Tactical Vehicle (KMTV) was held at the company’s Autoland plant in Gwangju, approximately 270 kilometers south of Seoul.

This upgraded KMTV is the first new model in 48 years, following the standard medium tactical vehicle introduced in 1977. Kia has been actively involved in military vehicle development since the 1970s.

The new KMTV comes in two variants—a 2.5-ton version powered by a 280-horsepower diesel engine and a 5-ton version with a 330-horsepower diesel engine. Both models are equipped with an 8-speed automatic transmission and offer improved performance and functionality.

The vehicle also includes modern features such as around-view monitoring, air suspension seats, front and rear cameras, and a built-in navigation system. Enhanced payload capacity and reinforced protection features make it more suitable for both South Korean military operations and international defense clients.

Kia secured a contract with the South Korean Army in December 2019 and subsequently completed the prototype, testing, and evaluation phases. Full-scale production has now begun, with deliveries to the South Korean Army set to start this month. The company also plans to market the vehicle to global defense customers.

A Kia official stated, “We aim to continue applying innovative technologies to develop advanced special-purpose vehicles for the safe transport of troops and the future of military mobility.”

Kia also showcased its military offerings at IDEX 2025 in the UAE, featuring the KMTV bare chassis, the KLTV two-seater cargo variant, and its first-ever passenger pickup truck, the Tasman.