Has anybody ever seen the assembly plant in Montgomery AL? They offer public tours, and we are booked for this July.

July why not Mid May when they do the big one. They are plannign a Big one in mid May, Car show included of prototype cars and custom rides of other Hyundai owners comign to tour. You can read about it at Newtiburon.com

The May event sounds great but we live in Canada and July is when our vacation is planned.

I'm looking forward to showing my kids the assembly plant, and am wondering if anyone can tell me what the tour is like.

What do you want to know about the tour? You could say I'm pretty familiar with it.

Thank you. Just wondering how much of the actual production you get to see, especially that which might interest a 12-year old (ie: welding robots, anti-corrosion bath, interior assembly, etc.).

Don - The tours begin in what we call the "glass house" visitor's area. There are some really neat things in there, esp for a 12yo. Last time I was in there, there were two (2) HCD concept cars (maybe only one now though). There is a 3-D model of the Assembly portion of the plant which is really cool; only bad part is it will not make sense until after the tour. There is also a gift shop and other Hyundai vehicles on display in the showroom. Pay attention in the parking lot - the president of HMMA is driving a Genesis. Also, there are two EQUUS parked inside the complex behind the "glass house".

As for the tour, it takes place on a golf-cart trolly. The trolly will take you through the stamping/welding shop. Depending on what day/time you go through, everything should be moving & grooving. Unless they make a MAJOR change to the policy, you will not go through the Paint shop (closed environment to eliminate contaminants within the building). You will go from start to finish through the assembly areas. Assembly starts from when the vehicles drop in from the Paint shop & ends with the completed vehicle going out the back door. After you go through assembly, you will be taken through the Engine shop & then back to the "glass house".

Anything else you would like to know, just ask & I'll answer it the best I can.

This post has been edited by HookEmHorns: Feb 26 2008, 05:52 AM

Thanks Hookem, we're looking forward to it. Our new Santa Fe is our first Hyundai, and it'll be cool for the kids (not to mention me too!) to see where & how it was built.

Do you work there by chance?

:whistling:

You think??

Hey no fair how did the pres get a Genisis???????

When you're as high up the food chain as he is, you get the hot & new. Don't forget they've already been released in Korea & the US models are already in production.

Does the Pres drive the V8? and could ya get us some pics of it? :thumbsup:

To be honest, I haven't even seen his yet, but I'll see if I can find out about the V-8 & possibly some pics. Cameras are NOT allowed on the premises, so I will have to do some asking FIRST.

I got to sit in & ride in the V-8 Genesis last year at the R&D center, so it's "old" news to me. The car is friggin' AWESOME. Roomy, great lines, superior feel! Seeing that & the coupe last year was definitely one of the highlights of my trip over there.

Here are all the pics of the Genesis that you could ever want. Specs are included.

http://www.hyundaigenesis.com/

David <><

thanks but that site opened in December 07

I was hoping for real live pics of a real live BH on some real live American soil

If the dealers are as shy about stocking the Genesis as they have been about the Azera, it may be a long while before we see them. I know some dealers carry a good selection of Azeras but most do not.

Hopefully Hyundai will give dealers some extra incentive to order a few.

I can honestly see me purchasing one in another year or so but I definitely would not want the first model year.

David <><

I have not seen the Hyundai plant but I did tour the Land Rover plant in England over the past summer. Very cool and worth the money. We got to see pretty much everything from the stamping of aluminum into panels up to finished cars coming off the line. You'll love it.

Well, we just returned from the U.S. and a tour of the Alabama facility. Outstanding! I highly recommend this tour for anyone traveling the area... even children and spouses enjoy it. The assembly line - from stamping to final assembly - is fascinating to watch, and the workers all smile and wave as you pass by. Hyundai is very keen to strut its stuff to the public, and doesn't charge admission.

We saw the 2009 Santa Fe in production. No visible changes, although there were a few specimens on the floor with plastic wheel covers... perhaps a new base model(?)

Honourable mention: Our 2008 Santa Fe pulled a camping trailer through 11 states, racking up 5,500km in the process. From the stifling heat of Florida to the hills of Tennessee, it hauled a combined load of over three tons flawlessly. Didn't even use a drop of oil.