The Next-Gen Santa Cruz Might Be a Chevy Colorado Under the Skin
Last fall, General Motors and Hyundai revealed they were considering a collaboration centered on joint product development, manufacturing, and clean energy technology. While they withheld specific details, reports in January suggested Hyundai might provide GM with electric vans.
Now, Reuters reports that Hyundai could supply GM with two electric commercial vans, while GM could reciprocate by offering Hyundai a pickup truck derived from the Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon.
This raises speculation about whether the truck could replace the Hyundai Santa Cruz. The Santa Cruz only sold 32,033 units in the U.S. last year and starts at $30,200—just $3,295 less than the Chevy Colorado.
Hyundai is also reportedly interested in acquiring a version of the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra. However, GM has not entertained this possibility, suggesting it may be a more ambitious request.
One of the Hyundai vans is expected to be based on the ST1 model and initially imported from South Korea. However, Hyundai is considering shifting production to North America by 2028. The automaker could manufacture the vans at an existing facility, through a contract manufacturer, or at a brand-new plant. A new facility would ramp up gradually but could reach an annual production capacity of over 100,000 units by 2032.
With GM preparing to phase out the Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana vans, Hyundai’s electric alternatives could take their place. However, potential tariffs pose a significant challenge.
Beyond the U.S. market, discussions reportedly include Hyundai supplying GM with compact crossovers for Brazil, likely based on the locally built Creta. Additionally, Hyundai is exploring broader collaboration opportunities, including joint procurement and development of batteries and semiconductor chips.
