If you’re a Hyundai driver looking forward to pairing your motor with one of the firm’s mobile phones, then we have some bad news to report. Hyundai has canned plans to launch its handsets in the UK.

Hyundai already sells branded mobile phones in several European countries and, back in January, announced plans to supplement this with between ten and 15 phones a year for the UK.

The first UK models were expected to roll off production lines during the first half of 2009.

But the recent collapse of distribution partner Advantage Cellular has resulted in Hyundai changing its UK phone plans, according to a report by website Mobile Today.

Hyundai had already begun recruiting staff for its impending launch into the UK mobile market. Graham Jelfs, who was set to be a senior executive within the firm’s UK mobile arm, said: “The global economical situation prevented it all from coming together.”

It's understood that the company's mobile phone sales in other regions will continue. ®