Alabama’s annual auto production is expected to near 900,000 in the next few years, a mark that could push it into the top three auto-making states in the country.
Currently No. 5, the state’s auto industry will get a capacity boost with planned expansions at the plants operated here by Mercedes-Benz and Honda, as the automakers aim to keep pace with projected sales and make room for new additions on their assembly lines.
And Hyundai, while it hasn’t announced an expansion, already has surpassed the capacity at its Montgomery factory this year, and growing demand for its vehicles should help that trend continue.
It’s a notable turnaround from just two years ago, when Alabama’s auto production bottomed out at just under 468,000 in the midst of the global industry downturn.
Finished Hyundais move down the production line at the Hyundai plant in Montgomery, Ala. The Hyundai Elantra has been successful in the market, perhaps helped because it gets 40 miles per gallon.“It’s significant to be No. 5 in the country, but you could potentially be looking at the position of No. 3 or No. 4 in the U.S. in automotive production, which is phenomenal given that it’s happened in the last 15 years,” said Steve Sewell, executive vice president of the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama and a board member for the Alabama Automotive Manufacturers Association.