Hyundai holds first U.S. plant grand opening

Mong-Koo Chung, chairman of Hyundai Automotive Group, and Alabama Governor, Bob Riley, gathered with elected officials in Montgomery, Ala. today to celebrate the grand opening of Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama, LLC (HMMA). The $1.1 billion plant has been under construction since 2002 and is the company's first U.S. manufacturing facility.

The plant employs more than 2,000. Sixty-four suppliers have located businesses throughout North America to support the plant. Altogether, these suppliers are expected to create 5,500 additional jobs with a combined capital investment of $500 million.

The 2-million-sq.-ft.-manufacturing plant resides on 1,744 acres and includes a stamping facility, paint shop, vehicle assembly shop, a two-mile test track and an engine shop, where the Hyundai 3.3-liter V6 engine is produced. In May, the facility marked the official start of production with its first saleable 2006 Sonata. HMMA will produce 300,000 vehicles per year at full capacity.