Rod Chapman•30 Nov 2016

NEWS

Hyundai trucks return Down Under

South Korean giant returns to our shores with keenly priced light-duty trucks; heavy and medium-duty products to follow

Hyundai-branded commercial vehicles are set to roll Australia's roads once more, with a new light-duty line-up spearheading a range that will soon be joined by a heavy-duty prime mover, a number of medium-duty models and eventually the South Korean manufacturer's large van, the H350.

Hyundai previously sold its commercial products here from 2010 to 2014, until the factory distributor opted to relinquish the range in order to focus on the passenger vehicle market.

Now, however, Hyundai trucks are back, the new-look commercial range being distributed and backed here by the newly-formed Hyundai Commercial Vehicles Australia, which is owned by the Sydney-based Peninsula Motor Group.

SOLID KNOW-HOW

Established, owned and managed by successful businessman Dilip Kumar, the Peninsula Motor Group was formed in 1985, and in the years since has run a number of automotive dealerships spanning brands such as Holden, Hyundai, and Hyundai Commercial Vehicles. PMG also established and imported China's Yutong bus brand here.

Now PMG has taken on the distribution rights for Hyundai's commercial vehicles, with the centre of its operations being a new technical and sales facility in the Sydney suburb of Bankstown.

Trucksales recently attended the official launch of HCVA at its headquarters, where Mr Kumar was on hand with HCVA General Manager, Anthony Hulme, and several senior Hyundai executives, the latter including Edward Lee, Senior Vice President / Commercial Vehicle Export Division.

There Mr Lee outlined Hyundai's goal for the Australian truck market.

"At Hyundai, our objective is quite simple: we intend to be a major player in the global commercial vehicle market, just as we have become in the passenger car market," he said.

With the Australian economy outperforming many other western economies in recent years, and Australia's now-well-entrenched acceptance of Korean automotive products, the time was right for another push into the Australian commercial vehicle market, said Mr Lee.

As outlined by Mr Hulme, Hyundai is initially setting its sights on the light-duty market with its new Mighty range of models, which are now available through a 21-strong dealer network. A further nine dealerships will join the network in 2017, including outlets in WA and Tasmania to give full Australia-wide coverage.

INTO THE FRAY

The Mighty models will be entering a veritable shark tank in Australia, infested by proven products from Isuzu, Hino and Fuso, among others. Despite the entrenched competition, Mr Hulme said HCVA has set itself what it sees as healthy but achievable targets.

"Our target is a five per cent market share of the light-duty truck market in 2017, giving us around 450 units for the year," he said.

"In 2018 we will ramp it up and we will be looking for a 10 per cent market share, and we don't think that will be too difficult to achieve. If we double our sales in 12 months we will be more than happy."

Mr Hulme said the light-duty range will spearhead a broader push that will eventually entail the wider commercial market.

"Next year [2017] will see the arrival of the Xcient in the heavy-duty segment," he said.

"In 2018 we will expand the range further with the introduction of a medium-duty range."

Following that will come the H350 in van, cab/chassis and 14-seater bus formats plus a 28-seater bus to rival the Toyota Coaster and Fuso Rosa, although Mr Hulme admits these models are yet to be confirmed.

LIGHT-DUTY SPEARHEAD

The Mighty range comprises the EX4 (4.5t GVM) in short-wheelbase and medium-wheelbase formats, the EX6 (6.5t GVM) in a medium wheelbase, and the EX8 (7.5t GVM) in medium, long and extra-long-wheelbase formats.

HCVA says it has a competitive edge in its 'Ready Built, Ready to Work' range of trucks with factory-fitted bodies, the company offering pantechs and refrigerated pantechs alongside its factory tippers.

To that end, the Mighty is available in all three of these bodies, while the EX6 is available as a tipper as well as a cab/chassis, and the EX8 is available as either a pantech or refrigerated pantech.

All Mighty models are powered by Hyundai's 3.9-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel. The unit puts out 103kW and 392Nm in the EX4 and 125kW and 610Nm in the EX6 and EX8. The EX4 and EX6 are fitted with a five-speed manual transmission while the EX8 has a six-speed manual transmission.

HCVA said an automated manual transmission will become available in 2017, and it's also looking at a fully automatic transmission.

Also in the pipeline is a 6.5t GVM factory tipper, and the arrival in January of a three-way factory tipper that can tip to either the driver's side or the passenger's side, in addition to tipping to the rear.

The second quarter of 2017 will also see a drop-side steel tray added to the mix, plus aluminium trays. The latter will be fitted by an HCVA partner at each Australian port of entry, before delivery to the local dealer network.

ROOM TO CHOOSE

A choice of Standard Cab or Super Cab is available across all three models (excluding Super Cab for short-wheelbase models), while the list of comfort and driver assistance features is extensive, to say the least.

That list includes items such as four 12-volt outlets, a passenger USB outlet, steering-wheel audio controls, Bluetooth, a tilt-and-reach adjustable steering wheel, dusk-sensing headlights, cruise control, independently adjustable seating and more.

Compared to their predecessors, the Mighty range now features more cabin space and 46 per cent more cabin storage space, plus daytime running lights and wider, deeper access steps.

On the safety front, the Mighty range is equipped with stability control, lane departure warning, four-wheel disc brakes and a zinc-galvanised, high-strength steel cab.

Hyundai's generous three-year, 200,000 kilometre warranty will also apply to these factory bodies, said Mr Hulme.

"For the first time, an owner can make one call to Hyundai and anything to do with the truck or the body is taken care of with one call – no longer will owners have to ring several organisations for a repair or for a claim," he says.

A 24-hour roadside assistance program applies for the duration of the warranty, while HCVA says parts will be shipped via an overnight TNT service.

IMPRESSIVE PRODUCT

A quick look at the Mighty range at the launch impressed; certainly these cabins are spacious and feature a high degree of adjustment to allow drivers to find the perfect driving position. There is no shortage of mod-cons, either – these trucks have specs listings that read more like a passenger car than a traditional commercial vehicle.

While full pricing is yet to be announced, HCVA has confirmed the EX4 in a medium wheelbase and with a Standard Cab kicks off the range from $39,990 plus on-roads. The EX4 tipper (MWB, Standard Cab) is $47,990 plus on-roads, while the EX4 pantech (MWB, Standard Cab) is $51,990 plus on-roads and the EX4 refrigerated pantech (MWB, Standard Cab) is $59,990 plus on-roads.

Following the Mighty range comes the 6x4 Xcient prime mover, powered by a 513hp/2500Nm engine mated to a 12-speed automated manual transmission. The truck comes with 850 litres of fuel capacity and rides on rear airbag suspension.

The sleeper cab on hand at the launch event was truly cavernous – this author is 188cm tall and I could nearly stand fully upright – while the dash and instrumentation places everything at the driver's fingertips. According to Hyundai, this is the largest sleeper cab in its class.

After listening to the Hyundai and HCVA executives, and taking a look around HCVA's sparkling new headquarters, the high level of commitment to this venture was obvious.

On paper and in the metal, the product looks good and certainly the Mighty's keen pricing and generous warranty will turn heads, but gaining a foothold in a tough market takes time, patience and money.

Does HCVA have what it takes? The Australian market will be watching on with great interest, but HCVA certainly seems to be off to a solid start…

Hyundai trucks return Down Under

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