Another one bites the dust. Kia confirmed that another EV expected to arrive in the US by the end of the year is being put on hold indefinitely.
Why is Kia delaying another EV for the US?
Not another one! Kia’s sporty three-row electric SUV was set to go on sale by the end of 2025, but that will no longer be the case.
The EV9 GT has officially been “delayed until further notice,” Kia told Car and Driver on Monday. The sporty electric SUV created quite a stir after its debut at the 2024 LA Auto Show last November.
Kia’s electric family hauler is already impressive. It boasts more rear passenger legroom than the Cadillac Escalade, over 300 miles of driving range, and fast charging (10% to 80%) in as little as 24 minutes, but the GT moniker promised to take it to the next level.
Powered by dual electric motors, the EV9 GT packs 501 horsepower, 122 hp more than the GT-Line variant. The added power enables the big body EV to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in just 4.3 seconds.
It’s not only fast, but it’s also loaded with fun features and performance upgrades, including an electronically controlled suspension (ECS), a virtual gear shift (VGS) like the Hyundai IONIQ 5 N, a souped-up suspension, and exclusive GT exterior and interior design elements.
Kia America’s former COO, Steven Center, called the EV9 “a home run,” promising the new halo GT trim was “set to spark the hearts of driving enthusiasts who still need the practicality of a six-passenger SUV.” As Center said last November, with the EV9 GT, “You can have your cake and eat it too.”
Well, those in the US may never get to see it. Kia said the delay is due to “changing market conditions.” The EV9 GT is the second EV Kia has put on hold indefinitely, following the EV4, the brand’s first electric sedan.
Kia, like most automakers, is adjusting to the policy changes under the Trump Administration, including the loss of the $7,500 federal tax credit.
To entice buyers, Kia introduced a $10,000 discount across its entire EV lineup earlier this month, including the EV9 and EV6 GT. Kia is offering up to $16,500 in lease cash on the 641-horsepower EV6 GT, while the standard EV6 and EV9 are listed for lease starting at just $309 and $419 a month, respectively.
Electrek’s Take
It looks like the US will miss out on another EV, thanks to policy changes under the Trump administration. Although the US and South Korea signed a new trade deal this week, lowering the tariff on imported vehicles from 25% to 15%, it’s still not enough.
While the three-row EV9 is built in the US at Kia’s West Point, Georgia, plant alongside the Telluride and Sportage, the GT version is produced in South Korea and is still subject to the added tariffs.
Like the EV4, Kia is delaying the sporty electric three-row SUV, “until further notice.” Hopefully, the Korean automaker changes its mind, or those in the US will lose out on yet another unique EV.
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