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Hyundai sets November sales record, sees big gains for Alabama-made cars
Published: Monday, December 03, 2012 By Dawn Kent | dkent@al.com
Hyundai said today that it sold 53,487 vehicles in the U.S. last month, an 8 percent improvement from a year ago and its highest total ever for November.
Buyers apparently were undeterred by the automaker's exaggerated mileage claims that came to light early last month.
The Hyundai Elantra compact, which is built at the company's Montgomery factory, was one of the models cited by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for the overstated fuel economy ratings.
The Elantra, for which Hyundai had claimed a 40 mpg highway rating, is losing up to 2 mpg, depending on the model, as the company makes corrections.
The Elantra's November sales grew 28 percent to 15,923. Sales of the other Montgomery-made car, the Sonata sedan, increased 13 percent to 17,660.
more...
[al.com]
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Defense contractor BAE in Anniston gets more work
By Patrick McCreless
pmccreless@annistonstar.com
Dec 01, 2012
More work is coming to an Anniston military contractor that slashed jobs almost two months ago due to insufficient workloads.
BAE Systems, the world's second-largest defense contractor, recently received a $37.6 million U.S. Army vehicle upgrade contract for its Anniston facility. While the contract will not restore any of the 145 Anniston BAE jobs cut in 2012, it did keep projected layoffs this year from being even greater.
According to a press release Friday from BAE, the company received the contract from the Letterkenny Army Depot in Pennsylvania. Under the contract, which will last through January 2014, BAE will provide the spare parts and kits needed to convert 250 RG33 Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles into Medium Mine Protected Vehicles or MMPV, a state-of-the-art wheeled military vehicle.
The spare parts and kits will be assembled by the existing workforce at the BAE Systems facility in Anniston.
more ...
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Huntsville International Airport celebrates the end of a $92 million expansion
Published: Friday, November 30, 2012
By Martin Swant | mswant@al.com
HUNTSVILLE, Alabama -- There was no ribbon cutting Thursday night as the Port of Huntsville showed off its new baggage claim.
But that's not to say there was no celebrating. Instead of the traditional symbol, a number of Huntsville officials opened up a piece of luggage. But they'd be disappointed if they were expecting shirts, shorts or perhaps even a pair of socks or underwear -- a bouquet of balloons emerged and rose to the ceiling as streamers shot from the second floor.
The baggage claim marks the end of a five-year, $92 million expansion and improvement project at Huntsville International Airport. The $25.9 million baggage claim upgrade nearly quadruples the airport's baggage handling capacity.
From one of the baggage carousels, a dozen or so suitcases rotated around and around, spelling out "Happy 45th Anniversary" -- to commemorate the airport's current location opening in 1967 -- and a band played atop one of the empty carousels. Several Huntsville officials, including Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle, Madison County Commission Chairman Dale Strong and Madison Mayor Troy Trulock were in attendance.
more...
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Auburn business school construction to be done by end of year
Published: Monday, December 03, 2012
By Stan Diel | sdiel@al.com
BIRMINGHAM, Alabama - Birmingham-based BL Harbert International has completed the $6.3 million renovation of the Auburn University business school building's façade.
The renovation of the façade resolves a long-standing problem with water seepage, said Bill Hardgrave, dean of the Auburn University College of Business.
"Many interior updates - to enhance the work and learning environment - have been postponed until the water issues were resolved," Hardgrave said in a prepared statement. "Now, we can move forward with some interior work knowing that we have a beautiful façade to work within."
The project, which includes new brick, concrete panels, windows and a new roof on the Lowder Business Building, is ahead of schedule and should be completed by the end of the year, Hardgrave said.
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