Hyundai could get Chevrolet, GMC ute in exchange for electric vans – report

Hyundai is reportedly close to signing a deal with General Motors which would see it get a ute from the American carmaker.

Reuters reports that in exchange, GM would get two electric vans from Hyundai. It cites word from a source familiar with the talks, as well as Hyundai documents it has reviewed.

The source told Reuters this van-for-ute swap could “kick off a broader partnership” between Hyundai and GM, two of the world’s largest carmakers, which could see further cost-saving deals centred around battery and chip purchasing and development.

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Hyundai would reportedly get access to GM’s North American ‘mid-sized’ utes, the Ford Ranger-rivalling Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon.

The Korean carmaker also reportedly wants to sell a version of the full-sized Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra, but GM hasn’t put this option on the table.

This deal to obtain a version of GM’s mid-sized ute will reportedly take longer to finalise than the van agreement.

Hyundai will reportedly produce vans to be sold under both its own and GM’s brands – almost certainly Chevrolet and potentially GMC – which will initially be produced in South Korea.

These may in turn be manufactured in North America by 2028, with a source reportedly telling Reuters that Hyundai is weighing whether to build a new plant, add production to one of its existing facilities, or contract out the manufacturing.

Hyundai could produce more than 100,000 vans in North America in 2032, and could share sales and service networks with GM which has a long history selling vans and utes.

GM already sells the Chevrolet BrightDrop, which it developed in-house as an electric delivery van and which measures up to 7.3m long.

However, it needs a replacement for its Ford Transit-rivalling, V6- and V8-powered Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana vans, which have been in production since 1996.

Hyundai is reportedly working on both a small electric van and a larger one intended to rival the Mercedes-Benz eSprinter and Ford E-Transit.

The Korean brand already has a rival for the diesel-powered Sprinter in the Solati/H350, not offered here.

Hyundai started production of its ST1 electric light commercial vehicle last year, which features the front of a Staria but a boxed rear body. This is also sold in Europe as the Iveco eMoovy.

Another component of this deal could see Hyundai provide GM with its compact Creta SUV to sell in Brazil, and potentially other vehicles on the Korean carmaker’s small and mid-sized platforms.

The threat of tariffs being imposed by US President Donald Trump has added uncertainty to the partnership talks between the two firms.

Reuters reports the talks are being driven not only by a desire to cut development costs but also for GM to make up for its struggling business in China and for Hyundai to finally enter the commercial vehicle market in the US.

Hyundai has never sold a van in the US, while its only ute has been the Santa Cruz. This is more of a ‘lifestyle’ ute, and is derived from the Tucson crossover.

The Colorado and Canyon cousins, in contrast, are more traditional, body-on-frame models. Launched in 2023, the current-generation models are offered exclusively with a dual-cab body style and a turbocharged 2.7-litre four-cylinder petrol engine producing 231kW and 583Nm, mated with an eight-speed auto.

The US-built Colorado measures up to 5416mm long and 1938mm wide on a 3337mm wheelbase. That makes it slightly longer and wider than a dual-cab Ranger on a longer wheelbase.

Hyundai has previously trademarked the Ioniq T7 and Ioniq T10 nameplates, understood to be earmarked for a pair of electric utes it’s developing in-house.

It confirmed in 2023 its next-generation electric vehicle (EV) platform, called IMA, can support pickup trucks.

It had previously ruled out developing a traditional combustion-powered ute, despite sister brand Kia recently revealing its Ford Ranger-rivalling Tasman.

Should Hyundai and GM sign this ute deal, it wouldn’t be the first time a foreign company has sold an American pickup truck under its banner.

Mitsubishi previously sold a version of the Dodge Dakota as the Raider in the late 2000s, while Mazda and Isuzu have also sold utes in the US produced by Ford and GM, respectively.

Nissan even came close to selling a version of the Ram 1500 as the second-generation Titan.

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