Hyundai tells its sweet home in Alabama to turn it up

Hyundai Motor America Alabama’s (HMMA) Montgomery factory that makes Sonatas and Elantras for the US market cannot keep up with demand. As the song “Sweet Home Alabama” instructs, “Turn it up!” By adding a third shift to the already humming plant, HMMA can increase production by 20,000 units. The plant makes the award winning Sonata and Elantra sedans. The added shift will mean and additional 877 jobs for local workers. There are already more than 2,000 workers in the plant. The added capacity and jobs will also feed more local employment at local suppliers. The Sonata built in Alabama accounts for more than a third of all sales for Hyundai in America.

Sonata and Elantra
Hyundai just had its second best month of sales ever. Its best month was two months ago. It is safe to say that the automaker has firmly established itself as the benchmark sedan in the mid-full size and compact car categories. Other car makers are also enjoying robust sales, but Hyundai is doing well with so many models over so many segments it is clearly a company on the move. Consider that the only two high volume models it did not sell more of this month compared to April 2011 (which had 3 more selling days) were the Sonata and Elantra. The reason it didn’t sell more, is it couldn’t make more. The third shift starting in September should help that “problem.”

Strong Finish In April
Dave Zuchowski, Hyundai Motor America's executive vice president of national sales is proud to say "We definitely felt some pullback from an overheated March sales pace but really picked up some momentum at the tail end of the month and finished with a flurry to set another all-time volume record. Vehicle availability continues to improve and our announcement just last night of the assembly plant expansion in Alabama will provide much needed production increases for our highly fuel efficient Sonata and Elantra sedans.” Hyundai is also proud to report that 39% of the vehicles it sold this past year had EPA highway ratings of 40MPG. If that trend continues Hyundai is likely to be the EPA’s favorite again in the coming year. With the new Santa Fe set to begin selling soon Hyundai is sure to continue this strong growth.

Hyundai has set records and the Alabama factory is ready to turn up the volume to keep pace.