Hyundai To End Production Of The Santa Cruz After 4 Years

After just four years, Hyundai plans to end production of the Santa Cruz pickup truck.

According to a report from Automotive News, Hyundai will end production of this pickup earlier than originally planned. Production was supposed to last until the second quarter of 2027, but the South Korean automaker is pushing back that timeline a bit.

The decision is said to be driven by weak sales and high inventories. In its best year—2023—Hyundai sold just 36,675 Santa Cruz units. Last year, that number dropped to just 25,499 units, a 29 percent decrease. By comparison, Ford sold 155,051 Mavericks during the same period.

Hyundai still has plans for a pickup, as the company has previously confirmed that it will replace the Santa Cruz with a larger, more traditional pickup truck. Last September, Hyundai CEO Jose Muñoz confirmed that the manufacturer was developing a “stunning” mid-size pickup truck for the US market. It is expected that production will begin in 2029, with sales starting in 2030. The new pickup will reportedly focus on durability and off-road capabilities.

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