KIA cancels the launch of the GT version of the EV9 SUV in the United States

KIA has decided to indefinitely postpone -which in practice allows us to speak of a cancellation even though it has not been officially confirmed- the arrival of the EV9 GT in the US market. This is a model that was initially scheduled to hit the country’s streets and roads before the end of the year. The South Korean manufacturer has justified this decision, citing as the main reason the “changes in market conditions” that have taken place in recent times.

This delay makes the EV9 GT the second KIA electric vehicle to suffer an indefinite delay in the United States in just a few weeks, after an identical decision was announced in October in the case of the EV4 saloon.

Although the company has not detailed precisely what led it to take this path, the elimination of the purchase incentives for electric vehicles offered by the US federal government, with a tax credit of up to $7,500, does not appear to be one of the reasons, since this top-of-the-range version of the South Korean manufacturer’s premium SUV was going to be imported directly from South Korea and, therefore, could not benefit from them.

The change in tariff rates, however, may well have had a negative effect. Although in October 2025 the United States and South Korea signed a trade agreement that reduced tariffs on automobiles imported from the latter from 25 to 15 percent, this reduction is probably not enough to make the commercialization of the EV9 GT in the US market viable.

An electric SUV with race-car performance

The EV9 GT stands out for the 374 kW of combined power delivered by its two electric motors, 91 kW more than the GT-Line version, which currently sits at the top of the range. It also features an upgraded chassis, adaptive electronic damping, an electronic self-locking differential with torque vectoring, and even the possibility of enjoying sporty driving thanks to a simulated gear-shifting system.

Other technical specifications worth highlighting for this high-performance version of the South Korean manufacturer’s premium SUV include its acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in just 4.6 seconds, and its top speed limited to 220 km/h.

The commercialization of the GT version of the KIA EV9 has not been affected, however, in other markets such as Europe, where KIA is already accepting orders and promises that the first deliveries will take place before the end of the year.

Technical specifications of this car

Off-RoadKIA EV92 versions · from 85,185 €