Hyundai Santa Cruz pickup made its debut in the United States in 2021 and has since become a solid alternative to the Ford Maverick. While it may not be a true pickup truck, it is essentially a Tucson with a truck bed. However, Hyundai has now confirmed the production of a fully capable pickup truck, although it may not be for America.
Hyundai Australia CEO, Don Romano, confirmed to Drive that the company is working on a new mid-size ute – a pickup truck. This vehicle will compete with body-on-frame alternatives in the region, such as the Toyota HiLux, Ford Ranger, and its cousin, the Kia Tasman.
“I am confident that a ute will be in the schedule,” Romano said in the interview. “But I’m not sure about the timing. The timing will depend on the type of ute we’re developing. If we use a body-on-frame platform like the Tasman, it could happen soon.”
Details are still unclear, according to Romano himself, and it’s not clear what will power the pickup truck. He mentioned diesel, hybrid, and even fully electric options as possibilities. Given Australia’s increasingly stringent emission regulations, sharing a platform with Tasman seems unlikely. However, Hyundai could seek assistance from General Motors; they recently signed a deal for joint production of trucks and vans.
“We will see what’s available from GM,” Romano told Drive. “My goal is to continue looking forward, and we have a strategic alliance with GM, not just on electric vehicles. We want to have a number of options, and GM is a part of that.”
Hyundai hopes to produce its new pickup in Australia within the next three years. As for the Santa Cruz, don’t expect any major changes to this compact pickup truck for the US. This pint-sized truck has just received a refresh.
