Hyundai and General Motor’s developing partnership might include Hyundai selling rebadged versions of GM’s trucks according to a wild new report.
A new rumor suggests that Hyundai might sell rebadged versions of GM pickups in select markets.
When Hyundai and General Motors signed a Memorandum of Understanding earlier this year, it took the world by surprise with the two companies saying that they are exploring the benefits of partnership. While the core aspects of the proposed alliance are still either shrouded in secrecy or not ready for primetime, rumors have already begun swirling about select details of the partnership.
One of them is a wild report saying that Hyundai could potentially sell rebadged versions of GM pickup trucks which would help give the company a unique route into select markets with a full-size pickup and serve as a potent example of the joint vehicle development proposed by the alliance if GM and Hyundai decide to move into that stage of the alliance.
Rebadged trucks would expand Hyundai’s pickup footprint
CThe Chevrolet Silverado could be one of the models that might get a Hyundai H logo in the report.
These latest rumors come from the business newspaper Pulse with the publication also reporting the two companies are considering teaming up to engineer trucks for the Latin American market. Pulse also claims Hyundai Chairman Euisun Chung traveled to the United States earlier this month to chat with GM CEO Mary Barra which could indicate things are moving along quickly.
This particular rumor would see Hyundai potentially benefit in a segment where Hyundai does not have much of a sales presence. The lone exception is the Santa Cruz which competes in the mid-size segment but is marketed more as a lifestyle vehicle than being a rugged work truck. The new alliance could see the H logo find its way to models like the Chevrolet Colorado, GMC Canyon, and even full-size models like the Sierra and Silverado. The lone catch here is that these models will most likely not be sold in the U.S. due to the strong market presence of the Detroit Big Three and their potential source materials. Instead, they would be sold in other markets where they will have more room to compete and not worry about being held down by established pickup competition.
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Not the first time rebadging has occurred
This latest rumor would not be the first time that the Detroit Big Three allowed rebadges of their trucks to be sold with the Dakota-based Raider being a prominent example of this in recent years.
While the rumors have neither been confirmed nor denied by both companies, it would not be the first time that a bigger company has allowed a smaller company to rebadge one of its pickups. Mazda had a rebadged version of the Ford Ranger called the B-Series that it sold in North America until 2009 and pre-Ram era Dodge also allowed Mitsubishi to sell a rebadged version of the Dakota called the Raider. Unlike the B-Series, the Raider didn’t have as long of a shelf life and it was produced from 2006 to 2009.
In the case of this proposed deal, it would be interesting to see how Hyundai and GM choose to proceed in the potential rebadging of GM pickups and the type of strategy that they could embrace if they choose to move forward with the plan. Alot of it will depend on how the MoU moves forward but if it transforms into a true partnership, it might shake up the truck market in select international markets.
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