[비즈한국] Hyundai Motor Company005380 is taking on the Chilean police vehicle market with its "Grand Creta" and "Tucson" models. Having already secured a spot in the top 10 best-selling cars in Chile, Hyundai is expected to engage in fierce competition with global automakers for this police vehicle contract.
According to the Spanish defense publication "infodefensa," the Logistics Division of the Chilean National Police closed an open competitive tender for a total of 1,028 vehicles on the 29th of last month as part of its plan to renew and expand its police fleet.
The Chilean police plan to select various types of police vehicles, including police trucks, vans (SUVs), and 4WD vehicles equipped with track kits. The final decision on the contract is scheduled to be announced on the 31st of next month.
Hyundai Motor submitted a bid for the van category, proposing 190 "Grand Creta" SUVs and 175 "Tucson" SUVs. Competitors include global automakers such as Chevrolet (USA), JAC Motors and Maxus (China), Nissan and Honda (Japan), and BRP (Canada).
Hyundai previously supplied 248 Starex vans to a police academy in Santiago, Chile, in 2006. At the time, the Chilean government reportedly conducted an open tender for van-type vehicles to secure police mobility, where they gave high marks to the Hyundai Starex for its excellent passenger and cargo transport capabilities and superior fuel efficiency.
Furthermore, Hyundai, along with Kia000270, has successfully placed four of its representative models on Chile’s "Top 10" best-selling car list. As their product competitiveness has been recognized amidst intense competition with global automakers, expectations for this police vehicle bid are rising.
Hyundai supplies vehicles to police forces around the world. Its export destinations range from Asia to Europe, including China, Yemen, Vietnam, and Turkey. Because police vehicles must handle emergency situations, solid durability and high performance are essential. Therefore, "supplying police cars" carries significance beyond mere sales.
Hyundai has recently been focusing on expanding its exports to the South American region. The "HB20," a strategic model for the South American market, is currently used as a patrol car in Paraguay. Paraguay first imported the HB20, produced at Hyundai's Piracicaba plant in Brazil, in 2016, and the model has enjoyed immense popularity.
An industry insider predicted, "Due to the characteristics of the South American region, vans or SUVs are widely used as police vehicles. SUV-type vehicles, with their powerful engines and sturdy bodies, are used for various purposes such as transporting equipment, deploying personnel, and escorting criminals. Given that Hyundai’s safety and performance have already been verified in South America, the probability of winning this contract is very high."