You might have heard whisperings that Hyundai is planning to
build a second assembly plant in the U.S. Rumors like that tend to
travel fast. Operative word: rumors.In April, Hyundai CFO, Lee
Won-hee, said no such formal plans were in place, but that they
could develop if the market continued to improve. What the Korean
automaker has confirmed are plans to invest $173 million in their
Alabama plant to substantially increasing the production of
four-cylinder engines.Specifically, the expansion will support
Hyundai, in their efforts to expand production at their Alabama
plant to include the Theta four-cylinder engine. Given the Hyundai
Sonata is fitted with this specific engine type and is currently
produced at the facility, the expansion makes perfect sense. In
addition to the Sonata, the Theta four-cylinder engine is also used
in the Hyundai Santa Fe and Kia Sorrento. Construction at the
facility is expected to be finished this fall, with additional
four-cylinder engine production will commencing early in
2012.Hyundai's U.S. expansion plans undoubtedly come as good news
not only for people concerned about the carbon footprint that comes
with importing parts from Korea, but for the state of Alabama and
even our county's overall unemployment rate. For to successfully
boost engine production by 300,000 units annually, the Alabama
plant will need to create an estimated 214 new jobs!Curious to
learn more about the goings-on at Hyundai? Stay tuned. World
Hyundai Matteson is dedicated to keeping you on the up and
up.
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