Kia begins mass production of next-gen military tactical vehicle in South Korea
has officially begun mass production of its upgraded
military transport vehicle
, the next-generation
Kia Medium Tactical Vehicle
(
KMTV
), marking a significant milestone in the company's decades-long involvement in military mobility.
The roll-out ceremony was held Tuesday at Kia's Autoland plant in Gwangju, about 270 kilometers south of Seoul, the automaker said. The event marks the introduction of the first new KMTV model in 48 years, following the debut of the original medium tactical vehicle in 1977.
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Developed under a contract with the South Korean Army awarded in December 2019, the new KMTV comes in two variants — a 2.5-ton model with a 280-horsepower diesel engine and a 5-ton version powered by a 330-horsepower unit. Both are equipped with 8-speed automatic transmissions.
Beyond raw power, the new KMTV adds modern features such as air suspension seats, front and rear cameras, around-view monitoring, and a built-in navigation system. Kia says the vehicle also boasts improved payload capacity and enhanced protection features, aiming to appeal to both domestic and international defense customers.
Deliveries to the South Korean Army are scheduled to begin this month, with plans to supply the vehicle to global markets in the near future.
The announcement comes on the heels of Kia's participation in the International Defence Exhibition & Conference (IDEX) 2025 in the UAE, where it showcased its full military portfolio, including the KMTV bare chassis, the Light Tactical Vehicle (KLTV) two-seater, and the company's first passenger pickup truck, the Tasman.
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