Kia’s 5-ton standard medium-duty military vehicle (Photo courtesy of Kia)
SEOUL, June 10 (Korea Bizwire) — Kia Corp. announced Tuesday that it has begun mass production of its next-generation standard medium-duty military vehicles, marking the first full-scale model renewal in 48 years.
The automaker held a rollout ceremony at its Autoland Gwangju plant, attended by over 100 officials, including senior representatives from the Ministry of National Defense and the Republic of Korea Army.
The new vehicles, known as KMTVs (Kia Medium Tactical Vehicles), are the result of a multi-year project initiated in 2019 under a formal agreement with the Army. Kia completed prototype development, testing, and pre-production evaluations before moving into full-scale manufacturing this month.
The KMTVs will be produced in two configurations—2.5-ton and 5-ton models—equipped with 280-horsepower and 330-horsepower diesel engines respectively, and both fitted with 8-speed automatic transmissions.
Engineered for extreme conditions, the vehicles are capable of fording one-meter-deep water, climbing 60% gradients and navigating 40% side slopes. Additional military-grade features include electromagnetic shielding, cold starts at -32°C, run-flat tires, and seating for up to 25 personnel in the 5-ton version.
Kia has also incorporated advanced convenience and safety technologies such as surround-view monitoring systems, air suspension seats, front and rear cameras, and GPS navigation.
Initial units are being delivered to the Korean Army this month, with plans to expand supply to domestic and international defense clients.
“Kia’s military vehicles are gaining recognition worldwide for their off-road performance and durability,” a company spokesperson said. “We will continue to apply cutting-edge technologies to develop specialized vehicles that ensure safe and effective mobility for military operations.”
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
