Hyundai’s newest production model — the highly anticipated 2022 Santa Cruz sport adventure vehicle — made its worldwide debut today as the automaker’s Alabama plant readies to launch its assembly.
The Santa Cruz, which combines the versatile open bed of a pickup with the attributes of an SUV, made its first appearance in 2015 as a concept. The final production version was showcased during a livestream event this morning.
Hyundai Motor North America President and CEO Jose Muñoz introduced the Santa Cruz as a “vehicle that completely shatters convention.”
“Designed in California and proudly built in America, at our plant in Montgomery, Alabama, the Santa Cruz is something entirely new in the market – a vehicle that creates a whole new automobile category: the sport adventure vehicle,” he said.
“The groundbreaking Santa Cruz joining the Tucson on Hyundai’s Alabama assembly lines represents another exciting milestone for the automaker in our state.”
Hyundai says production of the Santa Cruz will begin at its Alabama manufacturing facility this summer.
The crossover will become the second new model to be added to the assembly lines there this year, with production of the Tucson SUV beginning earlier this spring.
The moves come during a period of growth for Hyundai Motor Manufacturing of Alabama, which in 2019 announced a $410 million expansion to prepare for mass production of the Santa Cruz, a project that is creating 200 jobs.
“The introduction of the all-new Santa Cruz and the Tucson SUV to Hyundai’s Montgomery manufacturing operation underscores the company’s long-term commitment to producing top-quality vehicles in Alabama,” said Greg Canfield, Secretary of the Alabama Department of Commerce.
“The groundbreaking Santa Cruz joining the Tucson on Hyundai’s Alabama assembly lines represents another exciting milestone for the automaker in our state,” he added.
Along with the new models, HMMA continues to produce the Elantra and Sonata sedans and the Santa Fe SUV.
HMMA, which launched vehicle production in May 2005, is the Montgomery region’s largest private manufacturer with more than 3,000 team members. Since it opened, the Alabama plant has produced around 5 million vehicles for the North American market, along with more than 6 million engines.
INDUSTRY GROWTH
Across the state, automakers are in the midst of major new construction and expansions, including the Mazda Toyota Manufacturing plant in Huntsville and the electric vehicle manufacturing operation for Mercedes-Benz U.S. International in Tuscaloosa and Bibb counties.
Mercedes will begin producing EV sport utilities in Alabama next year, after debuting an electric version of its flagship sedan, the EQS, with a livestream event today from Germany.
The Alabama Department of Commerce estimates the state’s auto industry will add more than 6,000 jobs in coming months, as recent years’ project announcements materialize. Last year alone, new and expanding auto industry projects topped 2,600 jobs and $1.6 billion in capital investment, based on Commerce data.
Production lineups are also expanding. In 2021, Alabama’s auto plants will produce a mix of 15 different models, up from 11 last year.
Industry activity stretches beyond the major automaker projects into surrounding areas as large supplier networks take shape. Such projects launched in 2020 accounted for more than 2,000 job commitments and around $700 million in investment of the auto industry totals, based on public announcements.
