Auto Giants GM and Hyundai Unveil Plans for 5 Shared Vehicles Targeting South America

As of August 7th, 2025, global automakers General Motors (GM) and Hyundai Motor have unveiled a strategic partnership to jointly develop and produce five new vehicles for the Central and South American markets. The partnership, which is expected to launch the new models by 2028, aims to help the companies compete with the rising dominance of Chinese electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers in the region.

The four-year collaboration will see the development of a compact SUV, a compact car, a compact pickup, and a mid-size pickup, all of which will support both internal combustion and hybrid powertrains. While the companies did not disclose the specific production locations, they anticipate reaching an annual output of at least 800,000 vehicles at full capacity.

In addition to the new vehicle lineup for Latin America, GM and Hyundai also plan to co-develop and produce an electric commercial van for the United States market, with the goal of launching it by 2028 as well. This partnership represents a strategic move by the two automakers to leverage each other's strengths and share development costs, particularly as they face increasing pressure from nimble Chinese rivals offering low-cost, high-tech EV models.

Some industry analysts, however, have expressed skepticism about the potential for meaningful synergies from the partnership, citing the challenges of competing with Chinese EV makers that already dominate the Latin American market. Nevertheless, the collaboration is seen as a win-win for both GM and Hyundai, as they can learn from each other's expertise and potentially gain leverage in trade negotiations with the United States.