Hyundai confirms the production of its pickup in the USA in 2021
- The Korean carmaker Hyundai has confirmed the upcoming production of its first mid-size pickup, the Santa Cruz, which had been displayed as a prototype almost five years ago, at the Detroit Auto Show in January 2015. The Korean carmaker has taken the time to finalise its model and study the evolution of the mid-size pickup truck market in North America.
- In 2014, this market reached 400,000 units, while it is expected to reach 800,000 units in 2019. This market has doubled in five years, which is attracting the interest of many carmakers and decided Hyundai to launch its first model.
- The Hyundai Santa Cruz pickup will be put into production in 2021 at the carmaker’s American plant in Montgomery (Alabama), alongside the Santa Fe SUV and the Sonata and Elantra sedans already produced on this factory.
- The new model will be equipped with a 2 litres capacity diesel engines, developing 190ch, and of an four wheels transmission. The carmaker does not envisage electrified versions for the moment.
- The Santa Cruz will be exclusively marketed in North America, where the pickup market remains relatively important (18% of the market in the US including 3% for the mid-range pickup category).
- Its competitors will be the Chevrolet Colorado, GMC Canyon, Ford Ranger, Toyota Tacoma, Nissan Frontier and Honda Ridgeline. Hyundai has to first of all have construct a brand image in the pickup market, because it is a totally new market. Volkswagen has also announced plans to launch a mid-range pickup in 2021.
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