By Associated Press
Montgomery, AL – A trade publication reports that Hyundai Motor Corporation may start to produce a third vehicle at its assembly plant in Montgomery.
Automotive News reported that the South Korean automaker said because of a favorable currency exchange rate with the U.S., it makes sense to build more cars in Alabama, its only plant in North America.
Hyundai currently employs 28-hundred people at the plant, which makes Sonata sedans and Santa Fe sport utility vehicles.
Dong-Jin Kim, Hyundai's chief executive officer, said he wasn't sure yet which vehicle might be added, but said it should be a mid-sized vehicle.
Hyundai began production at the plant in Hope Hull, just south of Montgomery, in 2005.
Last month, the company said it is planning a 270 (m) dollar expansion that would add a second engine production line at the plant. Hyundai said the expansion will create 500 jobs and will build engines for Hyundai and its sister company, Kia.
(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)