Future Hyundai ute for Australia would be electric, not diesel or petrol

A second Hyundai dual-cab ute is on the cards – but it would use electric power, not petrol or diesel, and tread a different path to the Ford and Toyota establishment.

Hyundai already offers a ute in its global portfolio, the car-derived Santa Cruz – but it's sold exclusively in left-hand drive in North America, creating an opening for a traditional dual-cab offering for the rest of the world.

Speaking with Drive in South Korea this week, Thomas Schemera, Hyundai vice president of product and strategy, said: "In our long range plan, we have many, many strategic products. We have a lot of things in the pipeline.

"Nothing has been confirmed yet. But I can imagine if there is a way to showcase and to compose vehicles like that – for example for Australia and for the US – we [will] make it happen."

However, any future ute from the company would use electric propulsion, Schemera hints – in line with sister brand Kia, which has announced plans to launch two electric utes in 2026.

"I have had many discussions with the Australian market, I know there is a big demand for that [a ute] and I really respect that. But to start developing vehicles on an ICE [petrol or diesel-engined] basis doesn’t make any sense."

"In this case, we have to shift also our way of thinking and operating for the electric vehicle [EV].

"This is a different typology and a different task for us. Weight, size, aerodynamics, assets, user experience. It’s not that easy to realise all that, but we already have ideas how to do it – but nothing has been decided.

"So we have freedom of thinking out of the box on a regular basis. This makes [for], by the way, a lot of fun, to think out of the box and have the creativity not pushed into a box. Coming back to your question [about a ute]… We will see.

Should a future Hyundai ute be fully electric, it remains to be seen if it would be marketed only as a Hyundai, or under the company's Ioniq EV sub-brand – as per the Ioniq 5, 6 and 7 models.

However, Schemera says the chances of another Hyundai ute would depend on more than just building a business case – but also how much the company can innovate in the pick-up market.

"It is not just about the business case. I mentioned before it is also pioneering, trying things out, setting trends, creating trends, seeing the opportunity rather than just the risks."

Speaking more broadly on the Ioniq brand, Schemera said: "We don’t compare EVs with ICE. It is a completely different way of thinking, completely different concept, completely different technology.

"That’s why Ioniq plays a very important role from a brand standpoint. That’s why this is called a ‘product lineup brand’. This is not a sub-brand. This is not a brand like, let’s say Genesis. This is a product lineup brand. And the positive buzz we create is comparable to N as well. To get access to target groups, to try things out, to further emotionalise the brand."

Sister brand Kia has detailed plans to introduce two electric utes in 2026: one dedicated, electric-only offering targeted at the US, and a second "strategic" model for "emerging markets" – which may spawn petrol and diesel equivalents.

These Kia utes could pave the way for Hyundai-badged siblings – though such models would be unique vehicles on shared platforms, rather than just rebadged versions of its sister brand's offerings.

Hyundai and Kia's Australian divisions have been tight-lipped on plans to add utes to their ranges – however both companies have expressed interest, as the ticket to together beating Australia's best-selling car brand, Toyota.

The Hyundai Santa Cruz has been ruled out for Australia, due to a lack of a right-hand-drive version.

with Glenn Butler