Republic of Korea-based Hyundai Motor Co. has launched a division to market Hyundai medium-duty trucks in the U.S.
Hyundai had previously had a trucking presence here via a now-defunct agreement with Bering Truck Corp., which had established a commercial-vehicle assembly operation in Front Royal, VA.
Jamesburg, NJ-based Hyundai Truck America (HTA), headed by Y.J. Choo, said it will start out with an initial group of 30 dealers.
HTA spokesman Fred Hammond told Fleet Owner that all the dealerships are former Bering Truck Distribution LLC dealers.
HTA dealers will offer Hyundai HLD150 Class 4 and HMD230 and HMD260 Class 6 trucks. The OEM says the cabovers are suited for a wide range of business uses, including P&D, nursery-landscape, vehicle-recovery and food-service applications.
"We know the U.S. truck market is a very competitive and difficult market," said Hyundai executive vp Johng-Sik Choi. "We will try to meet the challenges of being in the U.S. with Hyundai's commercial vehicle products while trying to reach the highest levels of customer satisfaction."
According to Ed Muldoon, national sales director, the trucks’ standard features “help position the Hyundai line as the price/value and comfort/convenience leader in the Class 4 and Class 6 segments.”
The 14,510-lbs GVW HLD150 is powered by a 160-hp Detroit Diesel 638 engine driven through an Allison AT542 four-speed automatic.
The 23,00-lb. GVW HMD230 and 25,510-lb. GVW HMD260 are powered by 215-hp Cummins ISB engines mated to ZF 6S-850 six-speed synchro overdrive manuals. The HMD230 is offered in five wheelbases and the HMD260 in two.
All models are covered with a “competitive” warranty that includes two-years/unlimited-mileage coverage for the basic body and chassis.
Hammond said the trucks are being assembled in Korea, then shipped to the U.S. He said HTA wants to test the U.S. market before it makes any plans to assemble the trucks in the U.S.
