Montgomery's Hyundai plant produced more vehicles in August than in any month since the facility opened seven years ago, but it's a record that may not stand for long.
Workers at Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama churned out 35,254 units in August, nearly 3,000 more than the previous record, which was set in August 2011.
The facility set the record as it added hundreds of employees and prepared for the launch of a third production shift.
The additional staff members who were on site for training during the transition contributed to the jump in production as well as an increase in efficiency, HMMA spokesman Robert Burns said Wednesday. He said the month had 24 production days, which also contributed to the total.
With the third shift now rolling, HMMA could break its latest production record soon. Burns said a new record would likely come in October if the facility hits its production goals.
The August total was nearly 5,000 more vehicles than the facility had produced in any other month this year.
The new shift started production Sept. 4, the same day that Hyundai Motor America announced record-breaking August sales in the United States. HMMA produces most of the cars that the company sells in the United States, and America has passed Korea to land at No. 2 in worldwide sales regions for the company.
In late August, Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Chung Mong-koo underlined the importance of Montgomery's Hyundai facility when he traveled here to meet with its workers. Burns said Chung praised employees for the job they've done working long hours during the past two years before the new shift began ramping up.
HMMA added 877 positions to support the addition of the third shift, bringing the total number of jobs created at the plant to more than 3,000. The goal is to increase 2012 production capacity by about 20,000 units, and Burns said HMMA is optimistic it can hit that target. Read More:
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