OXFORD, Alabama — Canadian automotive supplier Kobay Enstel announced plans today to create at least 75 jobs over three years at a new facility in Calhoun County. The Calhoun County Economic Development Council said Kobay Enstel, which stamps metal parts for auto seats, is leasing a 60,000-square-foot speculative building on McIntosh Road in Oxford under […]

MOBILE, Alabama — The first Alabama-made Airbus A321 is sporting JetBlue colors. Airbus said today that painting of its maiden U.S.-built passenger jet has been completed in its paintshop at the company’s new, $600 million facility at Mobile Aeroplex. The aircraft emerged wearing JetBlue livery. “This latest milestone shows that the first aircraft to be […]

From the Far East to the Arabian Desert, Alabama-built vehicles continue to make their mark across the globe. The value of Alabama auto exports topped $7 billion last year, a record annual total and a 5.8 percent gain from 2014. Meanwhile, overseas shipments of Alabama-made motor vehicle parts reached $1.2 billion, an 18 percent increase. […]

MONTGOMERY, Alabama – Despite headwinds in global markets, Alabama exports in 2015 held steady at near-record levels on growing overseas shipments of products such as transportation equipment, primary metals and machinery. Figures from the U.S. Department of Commerce show that Alabama exports totaled $19.37 billion last year, just below the all-time record of $19.58 billion […]

RELATED: Don’t miss Yellowhammer’s upcoming Alabama Economic Growth Summit Made In Alabama asked Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle to outline his economic development priorities for 2016 and provide insight on why the city has been able to land a series of major projects in the past couple of years. Here are his remarks. Q: What are […]

RELATED: Don’t miss Yellowhammer’s upcoming Alabama Economic Growth Summit Made in Alabama asked Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson to share his economic development priorities for 2016, which is shaping up to be a monumental year for the Port City. Here’s what the mayor said. Q: What are your economic development priorities in 2016 and what would […]

RELATED: Don’t miss Yellowhammer’s inaugural Alabama Economic Growth Summit Made In Alabama asked Birmingham Mayor William Bell to share his thoughts on the economic development successes recorded by the state’s largest city in 2015 and where Birmingham is headed in the new year. Here’s what he said. Q: What are the 2015 highlights for you? […]

Alabama’s three global automakers combined to produce more than 1 million vehicles in 2015, the first time the state’s annual output has reached that big-league milestone. Mercedes-Benz, Honda and Hyundai produced a total of at least 1,033,095 vehicles last year, according to the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama, a key player in the growth of […]

Business Facilities magazine on Wednesday announced it has selected Alabama as its 2015 “State of the Year” after the state landed a string of coveted economic development projects, including Polaris Industries, Google and other companies. This is the first time Alabama has claimed the site-selection publication’s highest award. Business Facilities singled out Alabama’s successful recruitment […]

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Two Alabama business associations signed a cooperation agreement this month to enhance Alabama’s aerospace business presence. The Alabama Aerospace Industry Association and the Business Council of Alabama signed an agreement Dec. 4 in Birmingham pledging to work together for the state’s aerospace industry that generates more than $10 billion in government contracts […]

Honda plans to show off the all-new 2017 Ridgeline pickup – its next Made-in-Alabama model — in a Super Bowl commercial following its unveiling at next month’s North American International Auto Show. The automaker said Monday that the Ridgeline will make its television debut to more than 100 million viewers during the third quarter of […]

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — A team at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Alabama test fired a demonstrator engine made mostly with 3-D printed parts, moving them a step closer to building a high-performance rocket engine using additive manufacturing. Over the past three years, Marshall has worked with several companies to produce and test complex 3-D […]

You already know that all kinds of great products are made in workshops, factories, studios and kitchens across Alabama. Even better, many of them make perfect gifts for the special ones on your holiday shopping list. Our 2015 Holiday Gift Guide highlights the creativity of Alabama companies, artisans, entrepreneurs and others producing one-of-a-kind items ideal […]

LOS ANGELES — Hyundai showed off the redesigned 2017 Elantra sedan at the Los Angeles Auto Show on Wednesday, with the automaker giving the Alabama-made vehicle a bolder aerodynamic design, more interior space and other significant new features. The sixth-generation Elantra – one of Hyundai’s best-selling models – will arrive in dealer showrooms early next […]

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Leaders from Japan and seven Southeastern states on Monday pledged to continue building on a long-lasting partnership that has stimulated two-way trade and investment while creating nearly 140,000 jobs across the Southeast. Expanding the close economic and cultural ties between the region and the Asian nation was a central message from Monday’s […]

(Video Above: the Sun Charge Systems Inc. solar benches are made in their Alabama factory.) CLEVELAND, Ala. — In the workshops at Hornsby Steel, hulking machines bend and curve steel plates, pipes and rods to the exacting specifications of architects and builders. And it’s the Blount County firm’s manufacturing know-how that’s at the heart of a […]

  (Video Above: The official Georgia-Pacific announcement) PURDUE HILL, Ala. — Georgia-Pacific last week announced plans for $110 million in upgrades to its Alabama River Cellulose (ARC) mill in Monroe County, enhancing the facility’s competitiveness and making it more technologically advanced. The investments include replacing one of the mill’s two existing wood yards that process incoming […]

JASPER, Ala. — Yokohama, Japan-based Yorozu Corp., a global Tier 1 automotive supplier, plans to invest more than $100 million to build an advanced metal stamping facility in Alabama, creating 300 jobs in Jasper and adding momentum to the state’s growing auto manufacturing sector. The Yorozu Automotive Alabama Inc. (YAA) facility will be located on […]

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The Alabama Innovation Fund has awarded nearly $4.5 million to advance research being conducted at universities and other institutions, providing key support for programs that could generate new ventures and create jobs across the state. This year, the Alabama Innovation Fund is funding 14 projects at six different universities and two research-focused organizations, […]

(Video Above: The official trailer for “Woodlawn” which premieres October 16th) As young filmmakers, Jon and Andy Erwin dreamed of moving to Los Angles to start a career in movies, but with the success of their first feature film, “October Baby,” filmed mainly in Mobile, the Birmingham-based brothers realized they did not have to move […]

DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania — An Alabama trade and business development mission to Africa is wrapping up after introducing business executives and international trade specialists to opportunities in a region that’s growing rapidly if unevenly. The Alabama delegation, headed by Commerce Secretary Greg Canfield, kicked off the mission in Johannesburg, South Africa, where it participated […]

Mercedes-Benz plans to invest nearly $1.3 billion in a major expansion at its Alabama assembly plant, creating 300 jobs and preparing the factory to launch production of its next-generation sport utility vehicles. The new investment comes at a time of dramatic growth for Mercedes’ manufacturing hub in Tuscaloosa County. Output at the 3.7 million-square-foot plant is targeted at 300,000 vehicles this […]

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama – Workers at the Toyota Alabama plant recorded a production milestone Monday – the 4 millionth engine assembled at the Huntsville facility. “It was an exciting day,” said Jim Bolte, president of Toyota Alabama. “This is a testament to our team members – they are dedicated to building high-quality engines. And, whether it was […]

(Video Above: An Airbus A320 is assembled) Curious about how Airbus’ Alabama workforce will assemble those A320 Family passenger jets in the company’s new, $600 million assembly line at Mobile Aeroplex? A fast-paced video from Airbus paints a picture of how assembly operations will flow inside the company’s first U.S. manufacturing facility, where production has […]