Kia Australia has confirmed that the Telluride, the brand's flagship combustion-powered SUV, will remain unavailable in the Australian market due to production constraints.
Key Points:
- Telluride is produced exclusively at Kia's Georgia plant in the United States
- The Georgia facility does not manufacture right-hand drive vehicles
- No current plans to shift Telluride production to other factories
Production Limitations
Roland Rivero, Kia Australia's product planning general manager, stated:"My understanding is it's still out of the Georgia factory in the United States, and that being the case, [it's] very, very difficult [to import here]."
Comparison with Hyundai Palisade
- Hyundai Palisade, Telluride's cousin, is available in Australia
- Palisade is built in Korea, allowing for right-hand drive production
Kia's Australian Lineup
- Kia sources EV9, Sorento, and Sportage from Korea for Australian market
- No vehicles currently imported from the Georgia plant
Future Possibilities
- Second-generation Telluride prototypes spotted testing in the US
- Unclear if future models will be produced in right-hand drive
Market Implications
- Kia misses out on the large SUV segment in Australia
- Potential gap in Kia's lineup compared to competitors
While the Telluride continues to be a success in left-hand drive markets, its absence in Australia highlights the challenges global automakers face in adapting popular models for different regions. Kia Australia's focus remains on its current lineup, leaving the large SUV segment to competitors for now.
