KGM’s Electric Musso Pickup Truck Set to Invade Europe
A New Player in the EV Pickup Game
South Korean automaker KGM, formerly Ssangyong, is poised to make waves in the European market with its electric Musso pickup truck. This innovative vehicle, already gaining traction in its home country, is designed to be one of the initial electric pickups available on the continent, offering a compelling alternative in the burgeoning EV sector.
The electric Musso, based on the Torres and Antyon models, boasts a self-supporting body and a five-seater cab. It offers a base front-wheel-drive variant with 152 kW of power, and an all-wheel-drive version, delivering a robust 304 kW. The LFP battery has a capacity of 80.6 kWh, and can reach 80% charge in just 24 minutes using a 200 kW charger, promising a range of approximately 401 km. Plus, it includes a V2L function for powering external devices, and can tow up to 1.8 tonnes while carrying a 500 kg payload.
Market Entry and Competition
The vehicle is expected to compete with other self-supporting pickup trucks, notably the Chinese Radar, offering a combustion version. It is expected to launch in the fourth quarter of the year. Moreover, the combustion version might use the same technology as the Torres and Antyon models, potentially including a hybrid variant combining a 1.5-liter engine with an electric motor, which is projected to have a combined power of 130 kW.
In Korea, the Musso EV has already garnered significant interest. Over 3,200 orders were placed in the initial two weeks, with sales figures steadily increasing each month. As a result, it has become the best-selling KGM model in the domestic market.
European Expansion
The initial shipment of KGM vehicles destined for Europe included 184 electric Mussa and 799 hybrid Torres models. The vehicles boarded the RO-RO ship Asian Trust on June 12, with a KGM executive, KWAK Jae-Seon, noting that electrified innovations are key to the brand’s expansion. The ship is scheduled to visit Germany, Spain, Norway, and Hungary, the location of the Czech market importer. The first examples are on their way to Europe.
Pricing and Incentives
The Korean market price starts at CZK 756,000, with all-wheel-drive costing about CZK 40,000 more. The brand offers a 5-year/100,000 km warranty on the Korean website. It also boasts a 10-year/1,000,000-kilometer battery warranty and offers up to 7.8 million crowns in compensation in case of a fire due to the car’s traction battery.
The rise of electric pickups mirrors the growing interest in electric vehicles overall. According to the International Energy Agency, global sales of electric vehicles have surged, with a 60% increase in 2023 (IEA 2024), highlighting the shift toward electric mobility and the increasing demand for these vehicles.
The KGM Musso EV is well-positioned to capitalize on the growing electric vehicle demand. Offering a combination of performance, features, and a robust warranty, it is set to challenge the existing players. The arrival of this pickup in Europe marks a significant step in KGM’s global expansion.