The head of Hyundai in South Africa is keen on a bakkie based on the Kia Tasman, though quips it’d have to be “a lot better looking” than that divisively styled model…
- Hyundai’s local CEO has “been asking” for bakkie “for 25 years”
- Says it would make sense for Hyundai to use Tasman platform
- Seoul hasn’t ruled out Hyundai bakkie, but “nothing is confirmed”
Hyundai Automotive South Africa’s CEO says it would make sense for the brand to offer a ladder-frame bakkie based on the Kia Tasman, though quips it would have to be “a lot better looking” than that model.
Stanley Anderson, CEO of Hyundai Automotive South Africa, was speaking during an interview conducted in Cars.co.za‘s custom-built podcast booth at Naamsa’s South African Auto Week 2025 in Gqeberha in the Eastern Cape.
As a reminder, in global terms, the Hyundai Motor Group serves as Kia’s parent company. Considering the Kia brand is due to launch the Tasman in South Africa in 2026, we asked Anderson whether a Hyundai-badged bakkie was in its plans.
“I’ve been asking for 25 years – they haven’t listened,” laughed Anderson, who was promoted to CEO of Hyundai Automotive South Africa in July 2025 after almost a quarter of a century with the brand.
“They [Hyundai Motor Company’s head office in Seoul] haven’t said: “no, it will never happen’. I think there is work [ongoing] in the background, but nothing is confirmed,” he added.
Anderson went on to suggest he thought it would make sense to offer a Hyundai bakkie based on the same body-on-frame architecture as the Tasman (to take on the segment’s strongest sellers, like the Toyota Hilux and Ford Ranger), though seemingly couldn’t resist poking fun at the Kia model’s divisive exterior styling.
“They’ve got the platform now, with the Tasman, because we share platforms with Kia in other models. So, I don’t see why we can’t share the same platform – they must just make it a lot better looking than the Kia,” he quipped.
“It’ll be interesting to see how it appeals to our market, but I think they’re going to have a tough time with that styling,” Anderson said of the Tasman, which is built on what Kia describes as a “fully optimised” body-on-frame platform.
Interestingly, a year prior at South African Auto Week 2024, Anderson’s predecessor confirmed to Cars.co.za that the brand’s local division was “in discussions” with its head office in South Korea about the possibility of introducing a double-cab bakkie, though added there were “no definite plans”.
Meanwhile, in August 2025, Hyundai and General Motors (GM) announced plans to co-develop at least 5 new vehicles, including a compact bakkie and a mid-size bakkie. GM – which pulled out of South Africa at the end of 2017 – has been tasked with leading the development of the mid-size bakkie platform, though this model have thus far been confirmed only for Central and South America (i.e., left-hand-drive markets).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Does Hyundai South Africa plan to launch a bakkie based on the Kia Tasman platform?
A: Hyundai Automotive South Africa’s CEO, Stanley Anderson, confirmed that while Seoul hasn’t ruled it out, “nothing is confirmed” at this stage, though he believes there is “work [ongoing] in the background”.
Q: Who is the CEO of Hyundai Automotive South Africa and what is his opinion on the Kia Tasman’s styling?
A: Stanley Anderson is the CEO of Hyundai Automotive South Africa. He suggested that if Hyundai were to offer a bakkie on the Tasman platform, it would have to be “a lot better looking” than the Kia, indicating he finds the Tasman’s exterior styling to be divisive and potentially a challenge for its market appeal.
Q: When is the Kia Tasman scheduled to launch in South Africa?
A: The Kia Tasman is scheduled to launch locally in South Africa in the opening half of 2026.
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