We’ve been down this road before…remember the Isuzu i-Series?
Talks of tie-ups between automakers are fairly common, especially in recent years as major players aim to capture higher market share will also cutting R&D costs. According to sources talking to Reuters, those sort of discussions are going on between General Motors and Hyundai…and could yield some interesting results, including a new Hyundai pickup model for the North American market.
The two companies are holding “wide-ranging discussions”, people with knowledge of the matter told the outlet on condition of anonymity. Those sources did bring documents, however, which Reuters says contains details of Hyundai making a deal with GM to jointly work on next-generation battery technology and source semiconductors and materials for new electric vans moving forward. On that front, Hyundai is considering manufacturing zero-emission vans in North America by 2028. Under the potential (obviously unconfirmed, at this point) agreement, Hyundai would initially import them from South Korea, then possibly build a new plant or contract out manufacturing for these vans to sell under both Hyundai and GM brands (I’m guessing most likely Chevrolet or GMC, in GM’s case, based on its long-running Express/Savana lineup).
In exchange, the two companies’ conversation also reportedly covers a midsize truck for Hyundai, based on the current-generation Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon. This isn’t the first time GM’s provided a truck outside its core brands, as its earlier tie-up with Isuzu resulted in the i-Series (after the “Hombre”, which was itself based on the old S-10 pickup), not to mention a few Isuzu-branded SUVs in the 2000s like the Axiom and the Ascender.
General Motors and Hyundai signed a memorandum of understanding to jointly develop new vehicle technologies and coordinate supply chain logistics. Again, the main idea here is to push each companies’ technology and model offering forward while cutting the actual cost automakers would have to take on to do it on their own (and, by extension, boost profit margins).
Beyond confirming talks are happening, neither company will comment on future product at this time, speculative or otherwise. For now, it’s just talking and a loose agreement to work together on some technology for some point down the road. Nevertheless, seeing a Colorado/Canyon-based Hyundai midsize truck could make the brand’s dealer lots a bit more interesting in the coming years, if it comes to fruition.
Other alleged conversations include Hyundai giving GM some compact SUVs in Brazil, and Hyundai having a full-size truck to sell (at least that’s what it wants, though GM is reportedly not bringing that option to the table…and I doubt the company would relent on that, since Hyundai’s participation could erode its own sales against Ford and Ram).
