Hyundai and GM announce first co-developed vehicles for Americas

Hyundai Motor Company and General Motors (GM) have announced the first five vehicles to emerge from their strategic collaboration, signalling a major step forward in cross-brand manufacturing partnerships.

The line-up includes four models for Central and South America—a compact SUV, a compact car, a compact pick-up, and a mid-size pick-up—capable of accommodating both internal combustion and hybrid powertrains. In addition, the pair will co-develop an electric commercial van for the North American market.

Production volumes are expected to exceed 800,000 units annually once operations are fully scaled, with the first models scheduled for launch in 2028. The mid-size truck platform will be led by GM’s engineering teams, while Hyundai will take charge of the compact vehicle architecture and the electric van program. Both manufacturers will employ shared platforms but design unique interiors and exteriors in line with their brand identities.

Design and development work is already underway, with the Central and South American models slated for regional production to meet market-specific demands. The electric van will be manufactured in the United States as early as 2028. The companies’ manufacturing strategy focuses on flexible platforms, enabling rapid adaptation between combustion and hybrid variants to optimise production efficiency and meet fluctuating regulatory requirements.

Alongside vehicle development, Hyundai and GM will initiate joint sourcing programs in North and South America, spanning materials, transport, and logistics. They are also exploring collaborative purchasing of raw materials, components, and complex systems—an approach expected to lower costs and streamline procurement.

In a notable move towards greener manufacturing, the two automakers have agreed to assess partnerships in low-carbon emissions steel production. This sustainability effort aligns with both companies’ wider decarbonisation goals and could influence upstream supply chain practices across the automotive sector.

The collaboration stems from a framework agreement signed in September 2024 and is part of a broader strategy to explore joint development across propulsion systems, including internal combustion, hybrid, battery electric, and hydrogen fuel cell technologies. Future initiatives may extend beyond the Americas into global markets.

José Muñoz, President and CEO of Hyundai Motor Company, described the partnership as a way to “more efficiently provide our customers more of what they want – beautifully designed, high-quality, safety-focused vehicles with technology they appreciate.” GM’s Shilpan Amin emphasised that the co-developed vehicles target “the largest segments in the Central and South American markets, as well as the commercial segment in North America,” adding that the partnership would deliver “more choice to our customers faster, and at lower cost.”