News of a flurry of activity in China reaches us.

Two interesting developments at Hyundai.

On the one hand, it's mulling the development of a pick-up truck for the US market. But, of more interest is the news that it is to establish a $107 million (€87.55 / £59.23 million) Commercial Vehicle leasing and finance unit.

Does a giant awake?

Europe looks to be getting a new Hyundai van.

Take a look here for the details of the new H1 model - destined for both the EU and Asia. Given HMC's success in the US - driven primarily through offering an almost bomb proof warranty on its passenger car range - you'd be foolish not to take the Korean OEM very seriously indeed in the LCV sector.

This could get very amusing.

This report from the Times of India – which we’ve just cut and pasted below - suggests that Hyundai is looking to take a piece of Indian OEM Eicher. Nothing strange there – everyone wants a piece of everyone these days. However, DaimlerChrysler is believed to be exploring ways of leveraging its 3.6 per cent piece of Eicher – held through Mitsubishi Fuso – with a view to entering the Indian Light Duty market.

Not so long ago, DCX and Hyundai were best of friends. Then it all went horrible. And now, it looks like they’ll be seeing each other again. And so the world turns.

Hyundai is in a state of denial.

Yesterday, it denied that it has any interest in a piece of Eicher – presumably much to the relief of DaimlerChrysler. Today’s denial surrounds rumours that the Korean OEM is to make a play for Jaguar and Land Rover in the Ford Fire Sale.

Interestingly enough though, Tata is emerging as a possible bidder for the JLR business. Quite how that would sit with Fiat is an issue worthy of pondering.

There’s an interesting piece here detailing Tata-Daewoo’s plans for the Korean CV market.

But our interest lies more with the European and US markets. Whilst Daewoo CV was spun off from Daewoo Motor in 2002 – and was acquired by Tata in 2004 – we wonder how much clout the brand has in both the EU and the US.

Daewoo-Chevrolet’s approach to car retailing in both markets – Daewoo is Chevrolet in Europe - has been one based around the notion of value driven products, and this would seem to have some legs as far as the CV business is concerned. Is there space for another retail L/MCV range in Europe and the US? Both regions boast market sectors that are more value than brand aware, and we have to assume that Tata-Daewoo is only too well aware of this. More anon.