Australia's cheapest electric ute? SsangYong Musso EV could beat Kia, Hyundai to market and offer Rivian R1T-beating 1100km range - report

SsangYong’s new owners have big plans for the Musso ute – the Korean workhorse is going electric.

A report from South Korean publication Daily Car says SsangYong’s new owners, electric vehicle specialist Edison Motor, is wasting no time putting its expertise to use.

The publication says Edison is developing an all-electric version of the Musso – which is called the Rexton Sports in Korea.

This is big news because it looks like the electric Musso will beat Kia’s recently confirmed electric ute to market in Korea.

Kia announced last week that it will produce two electric pick-ups, one for emerging markets, and another dedicated electric pick-up for wider release.

At the same time, sister brand Hyundai announced development of an electric light-commercial vehicle that could be a twin of the Kia pick-up, but it could also be an electric van.

Daily Car said SsangYong is already deep into the development stage for the electric Musso so it could surface as early as next year.

According to the report, the EV could be powered by a 110-220kWh large-capacity battery. For comparison the Rivian R1T is available with a 105, 135 or 180kWh battery, while the Ford F150 Lightning has a 98 and 131kWh pack.

This much capacity could give the Musso an electric driving range somewhere between 550km and 1100km, the report says.

Depending on the variant, the Ford can drive for 370km or 480km before needing a charge, while the Rivian’s range is about 509km. The Tesla Cybertruck – which is still in development – has a range of up to 805km for the tri-motor version.

As well as potentially having the longest range of any electric ute, the SsangYong could also have price on its side.

If it gets the green light for Australia, it’s likely that the Musso would undercut the expected price of the Rivian R1T which is expected to be well into six figures when it eventually arrives in Australia, which is looking like 2024 at this stage.

SsangYong revealed the all-electric Korando e-Motion SUV late last year, which is locked in for right-hand drive production but still yet to be confirmed for Australia.

It uses a large 61.5kWh battery, ensuring a WLTP driving range of 339km.

Korean startup Edison Motor was confirmed as SsangYong’s new owner in January after a protracted sale by former owner, Indian giant Mahindra & Mahindra.