New plant in Alabama builds Sonata

[NarendZORCE]

Taken from: http://www.freep.com/money/autonews/phelan-bar121e_20050721.htm

New plant in Alabama builds Sonata
July 21, 2005

The all-new 2006 Sonata is the first vehicle to roll out of Hyundai's new sprawling $1.1-billion manufacturing complex in Montgomery, Ala.

The plant will add production of Hyundai's all-new, larger seven-seat Santa Fe SUV over the next year.

The massive plant is vital to the South Korean automaker's strategy to move upscale and gain more affluent buyers who will pay higher prices for the bigger new cars and midsize SUVs it will build:

Key facts about the manufacturing complex:
�Total investment: $1.1 billion.
�Projected full employment: Approximately 2,000.
�Maximum annual production capacity: 300,000 vehicles.
�Groundbreaking: April 2002.
�Production began: April 2005.
�Major operations: Vehicle assembly, V6 engine assembly stamping, painting.
�Other features: 2-mile test track.
�Facility size: 2 million square feet.
�Lot size: 1,744 acres.

By MARK PHELAN