Evidently, pickup trucks constitute a substantial share of the U.S. automotive market. The Ford F-150, Ram 1500 and Chevrolet Silverado have consistently been the top selling models in America for years. With the demand for these trucks across the country growing strong, South Korean auto major Hyundai recently said its Santa Cruz pickup truck is coming to America.

Nearly four years after Hyundai unveiled the Santa Cruz concept at the 2015 Detroit Auto Show, the automaker is now apparently looking to build a new compact pickup truck based on the same concept. Hyundai confirmed that the Santa Cruz production will commence in 2021 at its Montgomery, Alabama-based assembly plant.

Byungjin Jin, President and CEO of Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama (HMMA), noted that Hyundai’s decision to bring the Santa Cruz to HMMA shows that the 3,000 strong HMMA team is ready to build a quality crossover for the American market.

According to a senior Hyundai official, finding a place to build Santa Cruz was one of the major reasons for the unexpectedly long delay.

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Reports suggest that in recent years, the Alabama-based facility has struggled to keep up with the surging demand for Hyundai models such as the Santa Fe SUV. The automaker will reportedly spend close to $410 million for the expansion of its Montgomery plant.

Hyundai said that bringing Santa Cruz to HMMA and expansion of its Montgomery plant will create 200 direct jobs and open up opportunities for about 1,000 regional suppliers.

The automaker mentioned that the new Hyundai Santa Cruz is more of a lifestyle, urban commuter vehicle than a rugged, go-anywhere model. Evidently, its design resembles a car-like crossover platform rather than a conventional body-on-frame truck chassis.

With the production scheduled to begin sometime in 2021, a fleet of Santa Cruz prototypes is anticipated to be on the roads soon.

The competition in America’s booming midsize truck segment is certainly heating up. The return of the 2019 Jeep Gladiator and the Ford Ranger is expected give Hyundai’s latest offering a tough time. 

Source credit: https://www.motor1.com/news/382161/hyundai-santa-cruz-us-confirmed/