It has been clear for more than a year now that Hyundai needs another plant, a risk that management has so far been reluctant to take.
Hyundai Motor America posted an all-time April sales record of 62,264 units, up 0.8% over last year’s all-time April record. This was less than half the rate of growth in the overall U.S. auto market. Still, it was the second best sales month in Hyundai history after last month’s all-time record. Year-to-date, Hyundai sales are up 10%, exactly tracking the overall growth in the market.
“Never has a relatively flat sales month felt quite so good,” said Dave Zuchowski, Hyundai Motor America’s executive vice president of national sales.
The question facing Hyundai remains how to increase production to find out what the actual demand is for its hot selling, highly styled vehicle lines?
Earlier this week, Hyundai announced a third shift at its Alabama plant that will increase 2012 production capacity by approximately about 20,000 units of its fuel efficient Sonata and Elantra sedans. That, and a shift of fleet sales to retail sales, will likely keep Hyundai dealers happy, for the moment.
Nevertheless, it has been clear for more than a year now that Hyundai needs another plant, a risk that management has so far been reluctant to take.
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn.
He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe.
Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap.
AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks.
Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.
