The CEO of Hyundai Motor Company Australia (HMCA) Don Romano has confirmed the company is currently working on developing two different-sized utes – a large, US-focused pick-up and a mid-sized Ford Ranger/Toyota Hilux rival – but only the “mind-blowing” smaller ute will be coming to Australia, likely by the end of 2028.
“I’m not leaving until I have a ute – and not just any ute,” said Californian-born Romano, who became HMCA’s CEO earlier this year (after a long stint at Hyundai Canada) and will continue in that position until mid-2028.
He confirmed that before he finishes his tenure in Australia he’ll be in a position to reveal full details of this crucial, potentially game-changing new ute for HMCA.
“It’s a guaranteed ‘Here’s the date, here’s the vehicle, here’s the differentiating features’. And if [Hyundai] produces what we’re talking about at this stage and what we’re working on, it’s going to be mind-blowing. It’s going to be great. And I really mean that,” said Romano.
The obvious choice would be to restyle the Kia Tasman and a produce a Hyundai version of this diesel dual-cab, though HMCA is currently divesting itself of all its diesel powertrains in Australia.
Pictured: Current 2025 Kia Tasman
Instead, Chasing Cars expects the forthcoming ute will feature Hyundai’s new EREV (Extended Range Electric Vehicle) technology that was unveiled by company CEO Jose Munoz at the 2025 CEO Investor Day in September, and which will debut in future products from 2027.
Hyundai’s EREV technology is intended primarily for larger vehicles, using a combustion engine as a range-extender to recharge the battery, with key details including a target range of 1000km, an EV-like driving experience and reduced battery size compared to conventional EVs.
Referring to Hyundai’s forthcoming Ranger/Hilux rival, Mr Romano said they could’ve easily rebadged another product “[but] that’s just not acceptable, especially now, with the competition continuing to grow.”
“We need to differentiate ourselves, and there are technologies that we’re currently developing that are different from anything we’ve brought to market,” he said – alluding to the brand’s imminent global roll-out of EREVs.
“I can’t get into the details, but [these technologies] will be coming out before I leave, and we will use it to ensure that our ute and our vehicles in the future are different than what China is currently producing.”
“I’m sure those brands are also looking at different technologies as well. But we’re going to try to be first to market in a number of areas,” he said.
Pictured: Hyundai 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol-hybrid drivetrain
While the Kia Tasman is currently a diesel-only product, its all-new platform was future-proofed to be suitable for electrification at some point during its 10-15-year lifecycle.
Chasing Cars expects HMCA’s forthcoming ute to be a unique product sharing its underpinnings and perhaps its structural hard points with the Tasman, but with a completely different look and an EREV powertrain.
As for the proposed tie-up with General Motors in developing a large new-generation ute, Mr Romano said this vehicle won’t be coming to Australia and remains unconfirmed as to whether it will be a shared product with GM or a unique Hyundai vehicle.
Pictured: Previously revealed speculative renders of a potential Hyundai ute
“Last time we talked, we said we are in a relationship with General Motors, and we’re looking to at that relationship, but it isn’t a done deal yet – we may go on our own,” said Romano.
“We did look at, ‘do we share a platform?’ And I won’t rule it out as an option, but it would have to be different than what they came to market with, because again, it’s getting back to the differentiation.
“I don’t think we’re going to share a platform – I don’t believe that’s an option. I have to leave it on the table, just in case something goes wrong, but that would not be our main goal,” said Romano.
Pictured: 2025 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD – a potential starting platform for Hyundai, but not in Oz
“Our main goal is to develop our own Hyundai ute with our new technology that’s unique from everything that’s out there, but the size that we’re looking at would be in the Ranger/Hilux category [for Australia].
“So it’s not a guarantee [the proposed development tie-up with GM]. We are looking at larger utes, but not for this market,” said Romano, confirming there are two different ute platforms being evaluated right now, but only one of those is for Australia.
So come mid-to-late 2028, what you can more than likely expect is a Kia Tasman-sized, Hyundai-designed dual-cab ute with a petrol range-extender bolstering battery charge, achieving “equal EV performance with less than half the battery capacity, using a Hyundai-designed high-performance battery.”
