Kia will start using robots in the United States, and will launch software cars and hybrid pickup trucks as its first offerings.

As a subsidiary of the modern car group, Kia announced at a business strategy planning conference in Seoul on Thursday that it plans to complete the development of its first "software-defined car" by the end of 2027. The model will be equipped with an advanced driver assistance system called Level 2+. Kia also plans to launch a more advanced version that can be used on regular roads by early 2029. Kia CEO Song Ho-sung stated at the company's investor day that Kia also plans to introduce a new mid-size pickup truck with a gasoline-electric hybrid system in the United States. This is part of its plan to expand its hybrid lineup to 8 models by 2030 in response to the increasing demand for hybrid cars among American buyers. He noted that this pickup truck will use a so-called "unibody" structure and will also offer a range-extender electric version. Kia will invest over $500 million to enhance its physical artificial intelligence capabilities and vision-language-action models, and plans to expand its hybrid product line to 13 models by 2030.