Kia revealed that the EV9 GT, initially planned for a U.S. release in late 2025, has been postponed indefinitely. In contrast, pre-orders for the model have already begun in other regions, including the UK.
Kia’s performance-focused three-row electric SUV was originally expected to launch by late 2025, but the plan has now been scrapped. The company told Car and Driver on Monday that the EV9 GT has been ‘delayed until further notice.’ The EV9 GT drew significant attention when it premiered at the 2024 Los Angeles Auto Show last November.
The reason for the delay has not been officially confirmed, but the expiration of the federal EV tax credit appears to be a significant contributing factor, hindering Kia’s momentum in the U.S. markets. In October, the company also postponed the U.S. launch of the EV4 Fastback.
Now, the EV9 GT seems to be facing a similar outcome, and what was intended to serve as Kia’s flagship performance model may not reach the U.S. market at all.
The EV9 GT was expected to carry a price tag roughly $10,000 higher than the top-tier EV9 GT-Line, which is currently priced at $71,900. Although the standard EV9 is built in Georgia, the GT variant would have been imported from South Korea and therefore subject to U.S. tariffs.
However, under a trade agreement signed between the U.S. and South Korea in October, tariffs on Korean-made vehicles are set to be reduced from 25% to 15%.
In October, U.S. sales of the EV9 fell to 666 units, a sharp decline from the 1,941 sold during the same month last year. The downturn signals a broader drop in EV sales across many brands following the expiration of the federal tax credit.
In response, Kia rolled out a $10,000 incentive across its entire electric lineup earlier this month, covering models such as the EV9 and EV6 GT. The company is also offering up to $16,500 in lease cash on the 641-horsepower EV6 GT, while lease rates for the standard EV6 and EV9 begin at $309 and $419 per month, respectively.
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