New Hyundai Elantra – 2011 Model Year production moving to Alabama

Hyundai moving production of the all-new Elantra (2011 model year) to Alabama!

Hyundai is all set to introduce the all-new Elantra compact sedan in the U.S. market. The 2011 Elantra, which has gone through a complete makeover for the new model year, will make its official debut at the 2010 Los Angeles Auto Show.

At the L.A. event, Hyundai will officially announce its plans to move production of new Elantra from Korea to the USA. The model will join the hot-selling Sonata sedan at the automaker’s manufacturing plant in Alabama, which has produced nearly 1.2 million cars since it started operating in May 2005.

To commence the 2011 Elantra production in Alabama, Hyundai will have to move production of the popular Santa Fe SUV to Kia’s manufacturing plant in Georgia, which currently only builds the 2011 Sorento crossover. Kia’s Georgia plant can produce as much as 300,000 vehicles per year.

According to Hyundai, the ultra-modern Alabama plant will produce only Elantra four-door sedans, while Elantra Toring models will continue to be imported to the USA. Although Hyundai has not revealed how many Elantras are planned to be build in the first year, we have been told that the model is expected to be one of the top three best-selling Hyundai cars in the USA. This means production will probably hit somewhere in-between 100.000 and 150.000 units per year.

The forth-coming Los Angeles auto show will bring us more details and information about new Elantra compact car, including the official Elantra release date, engine specifications, available colors and other important vehicle data, so make sure you visit our Hyundai blog again.