It’s been over a year since Hyundai was supposed to announce a pick-up based on the Santa-Cruz concept, but new reports suggest that nothing will be launched before 2020.
Back in January 2015, Hyundai Motor America president and chief executive Dave Zuchowski said in an interview with Car Advice that the project had passed the approval stage, and was waiting to be announced:
“What’s the easiest way to say that? We’re waiting more for an announcement than we are for an approval, right? It hasn’t been officially announced yet. Our timing is not crossing our fingers and waiting for approval, it’s trying to figure out when we’re going to announce it”, said Zuchowski at the time.
However, a new update from the Australian magazine has Scott Grant, HMCA chief operating officer, saying that the messages from Korea have changed regarding the light commercial vehicle. In other words, the project wasn’t scrapped, but it was postponed.
“It’s been advanced as we understand it. it won’t be anything this side of 2020. We’ve got a planning horizon in place where they’re looking at the vehicle quite seriously, but there is yet to be a commitment to produce.
I can’t confirm what or when, but it’s a slightly different message. Not any time soon but it’s starting to feel like there’s some movement”, said Grant
So, there you go, no Hyundai pick-up for the near future, although the Koreans seem open to enter the niche, with a worthy competitor for the Ford Ranger, and Toyota Hilux.
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