Hyundai’s Alabama Plant Exported Just 14 Cars in June
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Photo courtesy of Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama
MONTGOMERY, AL—According to several news sources, including AL.com and The Autopian, Hyundai’s Montgomery, Alabama plant exported just 14 vehicles in June, marking its lowest export total since the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, when production was temporarily halted. The dramatic drop—reported by South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency—highlights the immediate impact of new 25% U.S. tariffs on imported vehicles imposed earlier this year under the Trump Administration.
While the Montgomery facility has the capacity to build nearly 400,000 vehicles annually and maintains a consistent monthly output, the company has shifted its strategy to prioritize U.S. sales. Through the first five months of the year, Hyundai produced 155,800 vehicles across six models: the Tucson, Santa Fe Hybrid, Santa Fe, Santa Cruz, GV70 EV, and GV70. Monthly production remained steady—between 27,500 and 32,400 units—with the vast majority going to the U.S. market, including territories like Puerto Rico and Guam.
However, exports have sharply declined. Just a year ago, HMMA exported 2,386 vehicles in May. This May, that number dropped by 45% to 1,303, followed by the shocking 14 exported in June—a 99% year-over-year drop.
The decline has been especially noticeable in exports to Canada. Tucson SUV production for the Canadian market fell from 2,490 units in March to just 105 in May. Santa Fe production dropped from 1,356 units in April to only 28 in May.
To adjust, Hyundai has begun shifting production between facilities. In April, it moved some Tucson production to Montgomery from a Kia-affiliated plant in Mexico. In turn, exports from Mexico dropped sharply—from 2,100 Tucson units in February to just 522 in March and zero since April. Hyundai has also reportedly moved production of Canada-bound vehicles back to Mexico, indicating a broader effort to navigate around tariff pressures.
Despite the export freefall, Hyundai's U.S. sales remain strong, with 369,578 vehicles sold through May. The Montgomery plant also celebrated its 20th anniversary in May, continuing to play a major role in Hyundai’s North American operations.
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