Hyundai to idle US production for 17 days
Hyundai Motor Co. will suspend production at its Alabama plant, its only US manufacturing facility, between December 19 and January 4, in response to declining consumer demand, the South Korean automaker said yesterday. The production cut comes in...
Hyundai Motor Co. will suspend production at its Alabama plant, its only US manufacturing facility, between December 19 and January 4, in response to declining consumer demand, the South Korean automaker said yesterday.
The production cut comes in addition to similar steps announced in recent days by other automakers including Toyota Motor Co. in the US market, amid sinking demand from consumers reeling from tight credit and a slowing economy.
Hyundai's Alabama plant employs about 3,000 people and produces Sonata sedans and Santa Fe SUVs.
Hyundai's US spokesman Robert Burns told Reuters hourly production workers would remain on the payroll during the shutdown and non-production crews would perform maintenance.
Like its rivals, Hyundai has been hurt by the collapse in sales of cars and trucks in the US, a downturn that accelerated in October and November amid tightening credit and deepening consumer uncertainty.
Hyundai's US sales dropped nearly 40 per cent in November from a year ago. Year-to-date, Hyundai's sales are down 11 per cent in the US, its largest overseas market.