The KGM Musso EV has been named a Product Design winner at the Red Dot Design Awards 2026, marking an early design milestone for the fully electric pickup now on sale in the United Kingdom. KGM Motors UK confirmed the honor on April 20, describing the recognition as validation of the model’s bold styling, practical versatility and dedicated EV architecture. The award follows the Musso EV’s commercial launch in the UK market, where it is positioned as a capable workhorse with passenger-car refinement.
Highlights
- The Musso EV secured a Product Design title at Red Dot 2026, judged by an international panel of roughly 40 design experts
- The 5.16-meter electric pickup rides on a dedicated EV platform with a double-cab layout seating up to five
- Dual-motor all-wheel drive produces 175 kW (238 hp), paired with an 80.6 kWh lithium iron phosphate battery
- The model qualifies for the UK’s lowest Benefit-in-Kind rating for business users at 4% for the 2026/2027 tax year
Design recognition for a new electric pickup
The Red Dot Design Awards, organized by Design Zentrum Nordrhein Westfalen in Essen, Germany, rank among the most established industrial design competitions. Entries are assessed by an independent jury of around 40 international experts on innovation, functionality and design quality.
According to KGM, the Musso EV earned its Product Design distinction in a competitive field of global entries. The recognition is notable within the pickup segment, where utility-first engineering has historically taken precedence over design accolades.
The win follows a similar Red Dot trajectory for other battery-electric vehicles. The Fisker Ocean took a Red Dot Product Design Award in 2023, while the CUPRA Raval and Tindaya Showcar both claimed 2026 honors in recent weeks.
Built on a dedicated EV platform
At 5.16 meters long, the Musso EV uses a purpose-built electric architecture rather than an adapted internal-combustion platform. The double-cab configuration seats up to five occupants, with cabin packaging that KGM compares to passenger-car standards for comfort and refinement.
Despite its passenger orientation, the load bed measures 1.35 by 1.52 meters and offers 1,049 liters of capacity. It accommodates a Euro pallet, which KGM positions as a baseline requirement for commercial fleet buyers in European markets.
Powertrain and charging specifications
The Musso EV delivers its performance through a dual-motor all-wheel-drive layout:
- Total output: 175 kW (238 hp)
- Battery: 80.6 kWh lithium iron phosphate chemistry
- Range: Up to 290 miles in city driving, per KGM
- Fast charging: 10–80% in approximately 31 minutes at 120 kW DC
- Towing capacity: 2.3 tonnes
KGM cites the 290-mile figure as a city-use estimate, which should be distinguished from combined WLTP or EPA-cycle range. Independent range validation across mixed duty cycles was not included in the source material.
The choice of LFP chemistry aligns the Musso EV with a broader industry shift toward cobalt-free cell formulations, which typically trade some energy density for lower cost, improved thermal stability and longer cycle life.
UK market positioning
The Musso EV is already on sale in the UK, where KGM — the rebranded SsangYong Motor Company — has positioned the truck as a fleet-friendly alternative to diesel pickups. The company cites the model’s 4% Benefit-in-Kind taxation rate for the 2026/2027 fiscal year as the lowest in the UK pickup segment for business users.
Lee Kang, Executive Director of the KGM Design Center, said the Red Dot win reflected a longer-term design strategy. “This award is a meaningful achievement created by the passion of our designers, who have worked tirelessly to gain global recognition for KGM’s unique designs,” Lee said, according to reporting from Korean outlets covering the original announcement.
The recognition adds to a broader repositioning effort by KG Mobility, which rebranded from SsangYong in 2024 and is pursuing growth across Europe, Latin America and Asia-Pacific markets.
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