The two global rivals are reportedly working together to build an EV pickup that could be sold under a “badge engineering” scheme.
- General Motors and Hyundai are reportedly teaming up to build a new EV pickup
- The project is said to be a part of the MOU signed by the two automakers earlier this year
- Whatever vehicle is developed under the program will likely be badge engineered
General Motors and Hyundai have been hanging out quite a bit lately. And apparently, they like each other so much that they may team up on future technical collaborations. Given their shared interests in things like electric vehicles, hydrogen and robotaxis, that makes sense. But could it yield a jointly developed electric pickup truck?
Maybe so. News of the EV truck development comes from Korean business publication, Pulse, which cites a source familiar with the matter and builds on the signing of a memorandum of understanding that the two brands penned in mid-September.
The experiment is said to be in its infancy and fueled by an agreement drawn up by the automakers earlier this year—something which was said to potentially birth new technologies for future vehicles. But an entirely new EV platform, let alone EV pickup? Now there’s something that nobody expected.
Now, nothing is set in stone just yet. The idea of a potential EV pickup partnership is still unconfirmed by the automakers. However, the biggest concern is whether the long-term relationship between the two companies can outlast GM’s previous foray into EVs with Honda if a viable product actually comes to market.
According to Pulse, Hyundai’s executive chairman Euisun Chung met with GM CEO Mary Barra earlier this month to discuss the project’s specific details. The outcome of that meeting? Apparently the world could be getting an EV pickup out of the deal.
The development of the truck is said to fall within the scope the MOU, which was to “investigate joint product development, manufacturing and future clean energy technologies”—all of which one company official said that progress has been made on.
Here’s the latest on the progress, per Pulse:
“During the latest meeting, the two leaders reviewed the progress made since the MOU was signed,” a company official said.
“We are exploring various areas for bilateral collaboration, ranging from vehicle development to future energy solutions.”
The final product will likely be the product of “badge engineering,” which essentially means that the truck could be produced by GM and wear a Hyundai badge, or built by Hyundai and cosplaying as one of GM’s brands.
Sorry to say, but it looks like the vehicle won’t be destined for U.S. roads—at least not as planned. The truck is reportedly being developed for the Latin American market GM Authority points out that this means the game of badge engineering could mean that GM is looking to replace the Chevy D-Max or S10 Max, which are rebadged versions of the Isuzu D-Max and Maxus T70, respectively.
On paper, the partnership seems like a win-win. Hyundai gets the expertise of General Motors, which has decades of truck building in the world’s largest consumer pickup market, and GM to tap into Hyundai’s manufacturing efficiency and global reach.
The real test will be whether this truck can move past the boardroom and into a factory. These types of partnerships always seem like a great idea, but the execution can be hit or miss—just look at what played out GM and Honda’s EV partnership after the release of the Prologue. But if the brands can pull this off, it’s a good sign for everyone involved. And, hey, who knows, maybe something stemming from the deal will eventually make it to the U.S. market down the road.
