It’s official: Hyundai is producing a ute, but don’t expect a Kia Tasman clone, because the Korean brand is going in with American company General Motors (GM).
And also don’t expect it to be a shoe-in here, because the collaboration is about breaking into the Central and South American markets, as well as North America.
Hyundai ute render 2028
GM will take the lead on developing the joint venture’s ‘mid-size’ (which means one-tonne Toyota Hilux and Ford Ranger competitor) pick-up ute platform. The vehicle will launch in 2028 as previously reported.
Also spawning from the tie-up will be a mid-size SUV, a passenger car, and car-based ute — presumably a follow-up of Hyundai’s successful Santa Cruz.
Hyundai and GM say these vehicles will be prepared for internal combustion and hybrid powertrains, with no mention of pure electric power.
Hyundai monocoque ute render
President and CEO of Hyundai Motor Company José Muñoz said “Hyundai’s strategic collaboration with GM will help us continue to deliver value and choice to our customers across multiple vehicle segments and markets.”
Hyundai’s ute won’t be a Tasman clone
The partnership between GM and Hyundai will help Hyundai avoid tariffs in the US along with promote GM’s expansion into Central and South America.
This means that the body-on-frame mid-size ute produced in collaboration will not be built in Korea, at least for North America. Shipping costs and demand for the ute near its production site would likely make it cost prohibitive for Australia.
Kia Tasman 2025
But Hyundai Australia CEO Don Romano still has his hand up for a ute.
That said, it’s unlikely to be a direct rival to the established Toyota Hilux, Ford Ranger, and new Kia Tasman.
“[The future ute model] can’t be another diesel… I don’t think Australia needs another diesel [ute]. If you look at utes [in terms of sales] overall, you’re going to see a decline in volume this year,” cautioned Romano speaking to Chasing Cars.
“Australia is a big part of this, but [Hyundai Motor Company] also has a lot of other markets. And unlike Kia Tasman…we would share this truck with the US because Tasman doesn’t go to the States,” Romano explained.
Hyundai Santa Cruz 2025
Chasing Cars understands the Kia Tasman has been designed with electrification in mind, though it’s likely to be hybrid rather than battery electric (BEV) with unstable demand for that type of powertrain.
Being later to market than Kia will give Hyundai a chance to sit back and see what happens, with new names like the BYD Shark 6 plug-in hybrid proving popular — at least initially — Hyundai’s new ute could arrive with greater electrification.
