5 Things You Didn't Know About Hyundai

1. Hyundai opened its first U.S. manufacturing plant in Montgomery, Alabama in 2005. Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama, LLC is a $1.4 billion facility that currently produces the Sonata sedan and the Santa Fe sport utility vehicle. It employs over 3,300 people and, at full capacity, it will produce 300,000 vehicles annually. Hyundai also has facilities in Southern California and in Michigan and has invested over $1 billion in North America.

2. Hyundai has sold over 1 million Sonata’s. Sonata’s roots date back to 1989 when Hyundai introduced its second nameplate to appeal to a more mature, family-oriented buyer. Since then, Sonata has become one of Hyundai’s perennial volume leaders, and is the reigning sales champion dating back to 2005. Throughout Sonata’s history, the high-volume, mid-size sedan often has reflected the company itself, serving as the flagship for dramatic corporate achievements like implementing Hyundai’s 10-year, 100,000-mile warranty, commitment to standard safety technologies and assent up the quality rankings.

3. Hyundai will soon include 6 airbags, standard, on ALL Hyundai models, even the entry level Accent.

4. Each model Hyundai designs is tested over 100,000 miles to ensure a trouble-free ownership experience. This is a grueling test under extreme conditions. That’s how they can offer their famous 100,000 mile warranty. Hyundai also claims that every vehicle out of their Alabama plant has at least 2.3 miles on it because they test drive each vehicle before they release it.

5. U.S. News & World Report Put SEVEN Hyundai models on their Best Cars 2008: The Thrifty 50 list.