Hyundai dual-cab ute here by 2029

A petrol-electric Hyundai dual-cab ute with Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux-rivalling capability will be on sale in Australia before the end of the decade.

That’s the promise from new Hyundai Motor Company Australia chief Don Romano, who has set himself the goal of finally getting a dual-cab 4x4 ute signed off by the Korean auto giant.

“We are the only major brand without a ute … There is an opportunity I think and we have to be part of that opportunity,” he told journalists at this week’s Hyundai Inster EV launch.

“My goal in three years is to get a production plan in place.”

But Romano is on the clock because the 65-year-old will spend only three years in Australia before he retires in mid-2028.

“I want a ute that can compete with the number one [Ford Ranger] and number two ute [Toyota HiLux] in the country. And my goal being here only for three years will be to get it in the product plan and not necessarily in the market,” he explained.

Working on that timing, the earliest we’ll see a Hyundai ute is late 2028, but more likely 2029.

Romano’s preferred plan is to share the same ladder-frame chassis as sister-brand Kia’s controversially styled diesel Tasman ute, but overlay that with Hyundai powertrains and interior and exterior design.

“There is nothing wrong with the body-on-frame platform that Kia is using for the Tasman,” he said. “It’s a great platform, I have no problem with that whatsoever, I just have to make sure the design is unique Hyundai.”

Romano’s distant second option for a Hyundai ute is a rebadged version of the Chevrolet Colorado or GMC Canyon utes that could be accessible via a product sharing agreement signed between General Motors and Hyundai last year.

But Romano is concerned that foreign exchange penalties would make that program unprofitable if the vehicle had to be sourced from North America.

“I would be reluctant to do that unless I knew more about it,” he said.

He ruled out the small Cruz monocoque ute – which has been on the possibles list for years – for the same currency reason.

“Zero chance,” he said.

The third option, and one Romano is seemingly uninterested in pursuing, is a rebadged Tasman. The upside of that is Hyundai could have a ute in the market in two years.

“But I don’t want to do that, I want to put something out there that is uniquely Hyundai,” he said.

Whatever direction Hyundai takes, Romano made it clear his preference was to skip the segment’s staple turbo-diesel powertrain and head to straight to either hybrid or plug-in hybrid before eventually adding one of the battery-electric utes – codenamed T7 and T10 – Hyundai has previously confirmed are in development.

Hyundai offers multiple PHEV options overseas, including the Tucson in the US and Santa Fe in Europe, as well as hybrid options including a new system in the Palisade that’s expected to be deployed in the Kia Tasman.

Romano is keen to avoid diesel because of the restrictions and potential fines the tightening New Vehicle Efficiency Standard will have on CO2-emitting diesel powertrains by the time the Hyundai ute is ready for market.

“I do have concerns with the diesel engines simply because I do think a lot of companies right now are burying their heads in the sand when it comes down to the NVES requirements,” Romano said.

“They are going to be for some very challenging requirements if they don’t wake up and smell the coffee.

“So I want to make sure we are keeping that in mind, so that opens up to a lot of different options when it comes to drivetrains.”

However, he acknowledged diesel might have to be a short-term solution to meet towing and payload expectations.

He acknowledged that the two PHEV utes on sale in Australia now – the BYD Shark 6 and GWM Cannon Alpha – had issues in these areas.

“We have to be able to meet the towing capacity, the torque capacity,” he said. “Yep, [we’re] very much aware [of that] and part of that will be advancing the technology.”

Romano has the heft within Hyundai globally to get a dual cab off the ground because of his strong relations with global management.

His previous role was Hyundai Canada, in which he achieved significant success.

He also has a close relationship with Jose Munoz, the global boss of Hyundai Motor Company.

“My goal is to work with the executive team back in Korea and the USA and wherever Jose Munoz is at the time to get the resources necessary to get the product listed in the plan.”

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