Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama (HMMA) on Monday celebrated the launch of production on the all-new 2022 Tucson SUV, setting a major milestone for the Montgomery plant and the South Korea-based automotive giant.

The Tucson now joins the Sonata and Elantra sedans and Santa Fe SUV on the assembly line in Alabama’s capital city. This addition marks both the first time that the Tucson has been assembled in the United States and the first time HMMA has produced four vehicles at once.

The landmark decision to move Tucson production to Alabama was announced by the company late last year. The Tucson is currently Hyundai’s top-selling vehicle worldwide and in America. The Tucson has been exclusively built in South Korea until now.

“Hyundai Motor Company brought Tucson production to the U.S. because we have proven our ability to build world class automobiles,” stated Ernie Kim, president and CEO of Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama. “Today, the Hyundai brand has positive momentum in the marketplace, thanks to the expanding lineup of sport utility vehicles. The new Tucson will continue that momentum in 2021.”

HMMA recently completed a plant expansion project to support adding the Tucson to HMMA’s product mix. A release from the company advised that the addition of the Tucson will further enhance HMMA’s ability to adjust its vehicle production with market demand and stay competitive in the ever-changing automotive market.

“Adding this fourth Hyundai vehicle to HMMA’s production lineup will help the Hyundai brand meet the growing demand for SUVs in the North American market,” added José Muñoz, president and CEO of Hyundai Motor North America. “It will also better position HMMA to fully utilize its vehicle assembly capacity.”

The company’s release also underlined that the addition of the Tucson will continue to sustain high-quality jobs at HMMA in Montgomery and throughout its supplier base. HMMA will supply internal combustion versions of the Tucson to the North American market, including Canada and Mexico.

The 2022 Tucson will begin arriving in U.S. dealerships this spring.

Hyundai’s Montgomery plant will also soon build the Santa Cruz, a new compact utility vehicle that features a flatbed.

Sean Ross is the editor of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @sean_yhn