Hyundai Rumored to be Considering Full-Size Pickup Truck
The Korean automaker, which has made major inroads recently into the American car and crossover markets with critically acclaimed new products, recently held research clinics with truck buyers in California and Texas using a Ram 1500 customized with a Hyundai-style grille and interior tweaks. The response from the focus groups was positive enough to keep the project moving forward, according to our sources.
Hyundai Motors Company of Korea, like other foreign auto manufacturers operating in the U.S., manages its operations through an American subsidiary, called Hyundai Motors America.
A spokesperson for HMA told PickupTrucks.com that adding a pickup truck to its portfolio isn't currently on the company's radar.
"We never say never about future products we might add," the spokesman said, "but pickup trucks are not a high priority for us."
Our sources say that it's HMC, not HMA, that's running the research and that they may be doing it without HMA's knowledge.
Hyundai Motors Company of Korea, like other foreign auto manufacturers operating in the U.S., manages its operations through an American subsidiary, called Hyundai Motors America.
A spokesperson for HMA told PickupTrucks.com that adding a pickup truck to its portfolio isn't currently on the company's radar.
"We never say never about future products we might add," the spokesman said, "but pickup trucks are not a high priority for us."
Our sources say that it's HMC, not HMA, that's running the research and that they may be doing it without HMA's knowledge.
This isn’t the first time that Hyundai has considered building a truck for the U.S. In 2008, Dr. Kim Dong-Jin, Vice Chairman and CEO of Hyundai, said that Hyundai killed plans to build a midsize pickup for sibling Kia Motors at a factory in Georgia because of softening demand for trucks and rising gas prices.
Using a Ram 1500 in its research clinic isn't necessarily a sign that Hyundai and Chrysler might partner to produce Ram-based Hyundai pickup trucks. Manufacturers considering entering new segments can test early ideas using modified versions of existing products.
But such a manufacturing agreement wouldn't be unprecedented for Chrysler if it did occur. Chrysler was going to manufacture Ram 1500-based pickup trucks for Nissan before that deal died last year. With Ram sales off 20 percent year-to-date, a deal with Hyundai could help Chrysler take advantage of underutilized manufacturing capacity.
Similar deals, though, have had little success with truck buyers, such as the low-selling Mitsubishi Raider, Isuzu i-Series and Suzuki Equator. Sources say that Hyundai's larger dealer network could help overcome the hurdles that smaller manufacturers have faced promoting and selling rebadged trucks.
Similar deals, though, have had little success with truck buyers, such as the low-selling Mitsubishi Raider, Isuzu i-Series and Suzuki Equator. Sources say that Hyundai's larger dealer network could help overcome the hurdles that smaller manufacturers have faced promoting and selling rebadged trucks.
One other possibility is that Hyundai could build an entirely new truck in South Korea on its own later this decade. The U.S. and South Korea signed a free trade agreement in 2007. Part of that agreement will phase out current tariffs of 25 percent on South Korean-built pickup trucks exported to the U.S by 2017.
source by pickuptrucks
segunda-feira, 10 de maio de 2010
//
Labels:
News
//
0
comments
//
0 comments to "Hyundai Rumored to be Considering Full-Size Pickup Truck"
Blog Archive
-
▼
2010
(304)
-
▼
maio
(144)
- Mercedes-Benz to Style Helicopter Interiors, Yacht...
- 2012 Mercedes-Benz SL Will Use More Carbon Fiber
- BMW, Mercedes-Benz Fight to Outsell Each Other in ...
- Fit for a King: Omar Bongo’s Mercedes-Benz 600 Lan...
- Lorinser Gives Revamped Mercedes-Benz S-Class More...
- Mercedes-Benz Electric Vito Endures Cold Weather T...
- Mercedes-Benz Considering Making S-class Hybrid-only?
- Is Mercedes-Benz Planning a BMW Mega City Rival?
- Mercedes Announces New C-Class Coupe is Coming in ...
- New York 2010: 2011 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Wagon, R...
- New York 2010: Mercedes SLS GT3 Race Car Debuts, S...
- Upcoming Baby AMG May Get Supercharged V-6, Not Tu...
- Mercedes-Benz Crafts GT3 Racing Car Out of SLS AMG
- Mercedes-Benz to Build Subcompact B-Class AMG, Des...
- Mercedes-Benz Anticipates No U.S. CAFE Penalty in ...
- Next-Gen Mercedes-Benz B-class Could Spawn SUV, Se...
- Next-Generation Mercedes-Benz SLK Spied
- Audi's Stronghold in China Threatened by BMW, Merc...
- Audi and Xbox to Host Forza 3 Tournament in New Yo...
- Hybrid Haulers: Ford Announces C-Max Hybrids for E...
- Chrysler Sales Drop Eight Percent in January 2010
- Marchionne: A Chrysler-Lancia Merger Could Happen ...
- Chrysler May Abandon Sebring Nameplate
- Chrysler to Emerge Victoriously according to LaHood
- 2010 Detroit: Let the Chrysler Badging Begin
- Chrysler 300, PT Cruiser, Town & Country Updated ...
- 2011 Volvo S60 to Debut at Geneva Motor Show in March
- Despite Facelift, 2011 Volvo C70 Pricing Still Sta...
- Why The Toyota - Tesla Deal Works
- 2010 Chrysler Town & Country Overview
- 2010 Chevrolet Camaro Overview
- 2010 Chevrolet Corvette Overview
- 2010 Chevrolet Equinox Overview
- 2010 Chevrolet Impala Overview
- 2010 Chevrolet Suburban 1500 Overview
- 2010 Chevrolet Suburban 2500 Overview
- 2010 Chevrolet Tahoe Overview
- 2010 Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid Overview
- 2010 Chevrolet Traverse Overview
- 2010 Cadillac Escalade Overview
- 2010 Cadillac Escalade ESV Overview
- 2010 Cadillac Escalade EXT Overview
- 2010 Cadillac Escalade Hybrid Overview
- 2010 Cadillac SRX Overview
- 2010 Cadillac STS Overview
- 2010 Acura MDX Overview
- 2010 Acura RDX Overview
- 2010 Acura RL Overview
- 2010 Acura TL Overview
- 2010 Acura TSX Overview
- 2010 Acura ZDX Overview
- Driven: 2011 Ford Fiesta
- 2010 mazda cx7
- 2010 Audi Q7 Overview
- Cadillac XTS Platinum Concept
- 2010 Honda Civic Overview
- 2010 Honda Accord Overview
- Hodan RA-X
- Car model
- 2010 Audi A1 e-Tron Car
- 2011 Cadillac CTS-V Sport Wagon
- Best Lexus IS F Car Wallpapers
- 2011 Lexus CT 200h
- BMW Inline Six Motorcycle Concept
- Paul Yaffe-Built 2006 Yellow Road Glide
- The 2011 CTS-V Coupe begins production in the summ...
- 2010 Cadillac CTS Coupe – Rival For 3 Series Coupe...
- 2010 Cadillac XTS Platinum Concept At Detroit 2010...
- Obama denied the hybrid presidential limo he wanted!
- Audi RS6 Avant By Reifen Koch: 700 HP And 205 MPH,...
- Lamborghini Gallardo LP570-4 Superleggera The Ligh...
- Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera LP 570-4 Present...
- Lamborghini Gallardo Twin Turbo “Race Version,” An...
- Lamborghini Conquisto Concept by David Cardoso – O...
- First Pictures Of The Extreme Lamborghini Gallardo...
- Hamann Ferrari California
- Lamborghini Estoque
- 2011 Triumph Sprint GT 1050 First Look
- New Audi A2, The Audi Between A1 And A3
- Frankfurt Auto Show ladies – must see gallery of g...
- What can a VIDEO be about that includes a BMW S 10...
- Sexy Girls At 2010 King Of Europe Drift
- Harley-Davidson and Marisa Miller, what mix could ...
- Exige bursts into flames at N-ring 24h race, what ...
- 2011 Ford Explorer Caught Undisguised!
- 2011 BMW X6 to Get Single-Turbo N55 Inline-6, 8-Sp...
- 2011 Audi A8L / A8L W12
- 2012 Audi S8 - Spied
- 2011 Ford Mustang GT SMS 302 / SMS 302SC - Car News
- 2013 BMW 3-series Rendered - Car News
- First Details Of The 2012 Audi A6
- The Next Generation Audi A4 To “Loose” 330 Punds
- All Ferrari 599 GTO Copies Sold Before World Premiere
- Pink Lamborghini
- TOP 10: The Most Expensive Cars In The World
- Lamborghini Reventon Roadster For Sale, Copy #01 –...
- 2011 Porsche 911 Turbo S - First Drive Review
- BMW Concept Gran Coupé - Auto Shows
- 2011 Audi R8 GT - Car News
- 2011 Porsche 911 GT2 RS - Official Photos and Info
-
▼
maio
(144)
Etiquetas
- Acura
- Audi
- Bentley
- BMW
- Bugatti
- Cadillac
- Chevrolet
- Chrysler
- Dodge
- Ferrari
- Ford
- Gallery
- GM
- History
- Honda
- Hyundai
- Indy
- Infiniti
- Lamborghini
- Lexus
- Machimoto
- Mazda
- Mercedes
- Mercedes-Benz
- Morgan
- Motorcycle
- Motorsports
- News
- Nissan
- Panoz
- Porsche
- Reviews
- Rolls-Royce
- Saab
- Saturn
- Scion
- Spyker
- Subaru
- Suzuki
- Tesla
- Toyota
- Volkswagen
- Volvo
Etiquetas
Acura
Audi
Bentley
BMW
Bugatti
Cadillac
Chevrolet
Chrysler
Dodge
Ferrari
Ford
Gallery
GM
Happy new Year 2011
History
Honda
Hyundai
Indy
Infiniti
Lamborghini
Lexus
Machimoto
Mazda
Mercedes
Mercedes-Benz
Morgan
Motorcycle
Motorsports
News
Nissan
Panoz
Porsche
Reviews
Rolls-Royce
Saab
Saturn
Scion
Spyker
Subaru
Suzuki
Tesla
Toyota
Volkswagen
Volvo
Enviar um comentário