Hyundai is working on a pickup to rival a future electric Ford Ranger or Toyota Hilux, but it won’t be based on the Kia Tasman launching in Australia this year.
Hyundai Australia’s chief operating officer, John Kett, explained that the is keen to enter the pickup market, telling CarsGuide.com.au
: “We so desperately realise we want one. We won’t see one in a diesel form. We know that, we’ve made that clear. Whenever it comes, it will bring incredible value.
“When it comes, it will certainly accelerate or underline our NVES [New Vehicle Efficiency Standard] values by 2030. We’ll love the day where we can actually tell you something about it. The reality is, we know we’re getting one, it’s just a matter of time.”
According to CarsGuide, a “Tucson Ute” was recently showcased alongside other upcoming models for the Australian market at a dealer event. This new model is expected to replace the current Santa Cruz, which has faced significant supply constraints since its North American launch. The second-generation Santa Cruz is anticipated to launch in 2026, likely featuring a hybrid powertrain installed in the current Tucson SUV.
Hyundai has also filed trademark applications for the Ioniq T7 and Ioniq T10, both believed to be electric pickups and likely related to a Kia EV pickup spotted undergoing testing.
It’s clear that Hyundai will not be releasing a version of the Kia Tasman, a diesel-powered pickup set to be revealed by the end of this year and entering production in February 2025.
