Yep.
Posted on 02/19/2011 1:15:34 PM PST by reaganaut1
MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Few people in this city 800 miles south of Detroit cared much about the auto industry until Hyundai announced it would build cars here nine years ago.
These days, Montgomery cannot stop talking about it.
Hyundai and its sister company, Kia, which opened a plant last year just across the Georgia state line, have brought thousands of well-paying jobs to the region and even helped nurture a little Korean culture in Montgomery, the first capital of the old Confederacy. Hyundai is running its Montgomery plant almost nonstop. Rarely do more than a few weeks pass without word that another parts supplier has dozens of new positions to fill, typically offering good benefits and double the pay that the average Alabaman earns.
Hyundai, which will observe its 25th anniversary selling vehicles to American drivers on Sunday, was little more than an ambitious, second-tier brand when it chose to build its first United States car factory just south of Montgomery. But during the recent recession, the South Korean company thrived as Americans sought out cheap cars just as Hyundais were improving in quality.
In 2010, Hyundai and Kia each posted their highest sales in the United States and, taken together, surged ahead of Ford Motor to become fourth-largest automaker worldwide. Hyundai built 300,000 cars in Montgomery last year and sold most of them in the United States.
“If folks looked deeply at how far we’ve gone so quickly, from having no U.S. production five years ago to where we are today, it’s amazing,” John Krafcik, chief executive of Hyundai Motor America, said. “I don’t know that any company has gotten to such a high level of local assembly as Hyundai that fast.”
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
As a matter of fact the only one I have ever rode in, was restored to concours condition in a black and gray that would have looked great on a Rolls.
I thought all the automotive industry jobs were being shipped overseas?
Yep.
Because their home market is growing so quickly, the Chinese haven't really had the resources to concentrate on the US market for finished vehicles yet.
But it's likely just a matter of time.
Yea, same in my '95 Honda Del sol. Tried replacing my first headlamp bulb after 190,000 miles and it was a bitch. I don't think I got the wire clamp on properly but the coupling that attaches to the back of the bulb holds it in place perfectly fine.........
I worked for TKBudd here in Detroit for 35 years and am very familiar with their history in the automotive industry as well as their divestment of same back in 2006.......
All I will say on this topic is watch your backs.......Their state of the art steel manufacturing plant built in Brazil was intended to target the increasing steel demand in China. Via their "our way or else" attitude and with their global influence in steel production, they can shut down that Alabama plant in the blink of an eye and absorb the loss...........
As a side note, ThyssenKrupp is a product of the merger between Thyssen AG and Krupp back around 2000. Both were German steel companies in direct competition with each other............
Have you seen the Citroen supercar concept?
We love our Montgomery - built 07 Santa Fe - rides as well as a more expensive SUV, gets 23 MPG on the highway. Only problem we’ve had was with the fuel door not opening when you pull the switch, which the local dealer fixed for free under the warranty. It’s a little under powered around town (2.7 V6) but not too bad - you just need to be careful pulling out from a stop.
It looks like a $20,000 Lexus to me and even Lexus doesn't offer a 10 Year Warranty.
My In Laws have owned three Hyundai's. They never had any problem with any of the cars and drove each of them well over 100,000 miles.
Looks like the grill would give you a close shave right before the rest of the car ran over you.
I’d have to see it from several more angles to form an opinion. I have a design background, and am sort of a frustrated automotive designer, so I tend to notice concept cars and mull them over more than most.
First impression is that while I usually hate the angular, layered “Transformers” thing with which so many young Art Center grads seem obsessed, this one has some promise. Stark black and white for contrast. A good, expressive and agressive “face” with just enough classic proportion in the grille/intake area to carry the Cylon Warrior-esque remainder off. Very wheel oriented, which gives it an aggressive stance. Many forget to focus on the wheels, that’s where much of the visual interest lies.
On the downside, I thought Mitsubishi at first glance. The roofline is very much like recent concepts from SAAB, too. At least from this one perspective. Could be that it’s not really that derivative, would have to see more pics.
Where did you locate this one? I’d like to go see for myself.
I’ll post some different angles for you. The back is very similar to the front and the airscoop motif is repeated in some subtle ways.
Front 3/4 view is very nice. The rest I’ll have to think about. Don’t like the black aerodynamic “platform” much right off the bat, even if it does visually counterbalance the satin pearl mass extending above.
They’re certainly pushing the envelope, which is good. I’d hate to see them become bland and ordinary, they never have been in the past.
It is a striking car, especially for the price range.
I owned a 2008 Sonata, have a 2009 Sonata and recently bought a 2011 Kia Forte five door. All three have the same engine. Have had not problems with any of the cars. Highly recommended all the way around. In my opinion the best values in the market. All I have ever had to do is to change the engine oil and filter.
It was hard to judge driving it on snow. She says it doesn’t have the handling her Audi had, but she said she has never driven a car that was as easy to drive really, really fast.
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