Move Over, Tesla and Rivian: Karma Teases Electrified Pickup

At a press conference held on the eve of the 2019 Los Angeles Auto Show, Karma Automotive teased a partial photo of an electrified pickup it says is in the works. No timing or specifics whatsoever were given, except to say that the pickup would be powered as the Revero line is, by a fully electric drive fed by a reasonable-sized battery and an internal combustion range-extender engine.

Read our review of the sexy Karma Revero here.

From that standpoint, it has less in common with the Tesla Cybertruck and more in common with the Workhorse W-15 electric truck that's soon to be built in the former GM assembly plant in Lordstown, Ohio. This is especially true considering the Karma truck employs the same BMW-sourced TwinPower 1.5-liter three-cylinder range-extender engine (like the one in the i8) found in the Karma GT and GTS sedans, which is also fitted to the Workhorse W-15.

The image indicates an angular body design for the short-hood, quad-cab, short-box truck, and the image suggests the box might be unitized to the body, as is the case with the 2020 Rivian R1T electric pickup. Karma has announced plans for an electric SUV, as well, built on its new e-Klipse skateboard chassis, but that's expected to be battery-only, so we don't expect the truck to leverage those underpinnings. But it's even less likely that the Revero's chassis could be adapted for truck duty, so perhaps e-Klipse can find a home for the range-extending engine.

For now, we believe Karma is working to integrate the Revero drivetrain into an existing pickup as a proof of concept and also as a demonstrator vehicle for a new line of engineering and development services being launched under the brand Karma Technology. The company hopes to sell design services (Karma Design) and to offer third-party manufacturing services. So it may be a while before we see a Karma EREV pickup like the one teased this week.

See photos of the Karma Vision concept in the gallery.