Hyundai has confirmed that production of the long time coming Santa Cruz pickup truck will begin in 2021, at the company’s factory in Alabama, alongside the Santa Fe, Sonata and Elantra models.
The Hyundai Santa Cruz was first revealed as a concept back in 2015 at the Detroit Auto Show and has since been a frequent subject of rumors and reports about the possibility or the date it’ll enter production.
Hyundai says that the Santa Cruz will combine “the traditional attributes of a compact utility vehicle” with “the day-to-day versatility of an open bed”.
Related: Hyundai’s Upcoming Pickup Truck To Use Ladder Frame Chassis
Photo Renderings Copyright Carscoops / Josh Byrnes
“It’s the crossover that creates a whole new segment that successfully combines capability and utility to meet the unspoken needs of a new generation of buyers, especially Millennials”, said the Korean car maker in a press statement.
Unlike the 1-tonner truck that Hyundai is also said to be developing, the Santa Cruz will be a more lifestyle-orientated pickup in the same likes of the Honda Ridgeline. It will use a unibody construction, with all-wheel believed to be standard.
Hyundai’s Montgomery factory in Alabama will receive a $410 million expansion to support the production of the Santa Cruz pickup truck. This includes the extra space needed in the stamping, welding and processing areas of the complex while 200 new jobs will be created directly for the factory. It’s estimated that local suppliers and logistics companies working with Hyundai will employ an additional 1,000 people in Montgomery and the River region.
“Bringing the Santa Cruz to Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama demonstrates that Hyundai is confident our more than 3,000 Team Members are ready to build a quality crossover for the U.S. market,” said Byungjin Jin, president and CEO of Hyundai’s Alabama factory.
![](https://www.carscoops.com/wp-content/themes/carscoops/assets/images/icons/arrow.png"){kind=icon}