The Country Director of Hyundai Motors and Investments Ghana Limited, Ganesh Y. Phadale, has described Ghana as a strategic entry point for the continent’s fast-growing automobile market and a pivotal hub of the company’s long-term African expansion.
He explained that the country’s stability, growing middle class and favourable investment climate made it an ideal location for the company’s regional operations.
“Africa is always important for Hyundai Motors.
It is a key market, and whatever new model comes, production is planned with the African market in mind,” Mr Phadale stated. He said at the launch of the all-new Hyundai Palisade 2026 in Accra.
The event, attended by representatives from the Korean Embassy, industry stakeholders and customers, marked what Hyundai considers another step toward the future of mobility in Ghana and the wider region.
Features
Hyundai’s 2026 Palisade debuts as a bold evolution of the flagship SUV, blending style, space and advanced technology. Buyers can choose a 3.5-litre V6 or a new hybrid pairing a turbocharged 2.5-litre engine with electric power for improved efficiency.
Seating up to eight, it offers ventilated and heated seats, USB-C ports in every row, and dual 12.3-inch curved displays.
Safety features include Forward Collision-Avoidance, Blind-Spot Warning, Lane Keeping, and Rear Cross-Traffic Avoidance, alongside wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a built-in dashcam, and over-the-air updates.
Hyundai’s HTRAC all-wheel drive with terrain modes—Mud, Sand, and more—makes the Palisade ready for Ghana’s varied roads.
Job creation
Mr Phadale revealed that Hyundai now assembles all seven of its vehicle models locally at a state-of-the-art plant in Tema, underscoring the company’s commitment to job creation, skills transfer and technology sharing.
“This new Palisade is also assembled right here in Ghana,” he said, adding that the facility was one of the finest in the nation and capable of meeting regional demand.
The launch of the 2026 Palisade, the third generation of Hyundai’s flagship sport utility vehicle, highlights the company’s innovation cycle.
“Hyundai always changes its models every four years to meet customer and market demands,” Mr Phadale explained.
“The Santa Fe was refreshed last year, and now the Palisade enters its third generation after the 2022 model.”
Mr Phadale stressed that Hyundai’s vision went beyond sales to a long-term partnership in the country’s automotive development.
“We are not just introducing a vehicle; we are reinforcing our pledge to be a long-term partner in the development of the automotive industry in Ghana,” he said, citing the company’s efficient after-sales service and customer-first approach.