Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama (HMMA) recently announced that it will invest $388 million to construct a new plant to manufacture engine heads and support production of the Sonata and Elantra sedans. The investment, which will create 50 new jobs, will be spent on equipment for the engine head machining plant and updating technology in the company's existing engine plant.
"With our latest expansion, HMMA continues to show its strong commitment to the people of Montgomery and the people of Alabama," said Dong Ryeol Choi, Hyundai president and CEO. "Hyundai is continuing its track record of investing in new manufacturing technologies to ensure the long-term success of our Alabama assembly plant."
The engine head machining plant is scheduled to be completed in November 2018 and operational by mid-2019. The project is expected to free up space to expand engine assembly lines in one of HMMA's existing engine plants. The company's two plants are capable of producing approximately 700,000 engines per year to support vehicle production at both HMMA and Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia in West Point, Georgia.
HMMA currently produces engines for the Sonata and Elantra sedans as well as the Santa Fe crossover utility vehicle. Since starting production in May 2005, the company has become the region's largest private manufacturer with 2,700 full-time and 500 part-time employees.
"We are so very honored that Hyundai has once again chosen to significantly invest in Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama," said Judge Charles Price, chairman of the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce. "As home to Hyundai's only North American manufacturing facility, the Montgomery community pledges to continue our enormously successful 16-year partnership for this new expansion and beyond."
For more information, visit www.hyundaiusa.com.
