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Field Trippin': Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Plant

By Tiffany on 25 October 2007 early morning
Category: The Boys

We did something this past Monday that Caleb had been looking forward to for months. We toured the Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Plant in Montgomery, AL. He read a book about how cars were made back in the spring and has wanted to visit a car plant ever since. There was a three month wait for the tour at Hyundai, but finally the big day came. I’m happy to report that it was worth the wait.

My mom lives just thirty minutes from the plant, so don’t think we drove four hours just for the tour. Caleb and I were joined by a set of his grandparents and great-granddad, but Andy missed out since he was on his mission trip to Mexico.

I was doing this strictly for Caleb’s benefit. He has a curious mind, so I try to provide interesting outings to educational places. However I was surprised at how much all of the adults enjoyed the tour. Caleb was actually three years too young for the tour, so I told him to act like he was 7 years old on the tour. I figured he’d love it and behave since he was the one who wanted to go.

The tour was overwhelming. They have almost 1,800 acres of property and 2 million square feet of indoor space. They produce about 1100 cars a day. The tram takes you on the work floor within arms reach of the assembly lines. You see the stamping shop, welding shop, general assembly, engine shop, and test track. The only place off limits to the tour is the paint shop.

Caleb’s mouth dropped open several different times. He loved the general assembly shop where all the pieces come together. There were 250 robots in that area assembling the cars. I had never seen anything like it. About every twenty seconds the garage door would go up, and out would drive a brand new car. Caleb’s already wanting to go back, and since Andy missed it, he wants to go too.

So far we have also toured

Caleb is begging to tour a power plant next. I’m not sure you can even do that. The best part is most of these places are free and give you goodies for coming.

Caleb’s passion for seeing how things are made comes from the book Incredible Everything by Stephen Biesty and the show on the Discovery Channel called How It’s Made.

After Monday’s trip Caleb says he wants to work in a car factory when he grows up to be the person that controls all of the robots. I just hope his curiosity and passion for learning stick with him!

  1. If you are ever near Detroit, after you see us of course, you should tour the Ford plant. They have an extensive behind the scene tour and a spectacular museum that has so many really cool things from the first Model T to the chair that Lincoln was sitting in when he was shot! Check out their website: http://www.hfmgv.org/

    Also, I remember visiting and touring the Barry Steam Power Plant in north Mobile County when I was a kid. You could probably check with your local power plant to see about a tour.

    — Stephanie and Chris    Oct 25, 01:43 PM    #

  2. Stephanie,

    I visited the Barry Steam plant too when I was in elementary school. We’ll have to see if they still give tours.

    — Andy    Oct 25, 02:59 PM    #

  3. YES! Nurture the love for cars!

    1,100 cars a day?!?

    — Jeph Kryzak    Oct 25, 04:14 PM    #

  4. I also toured Barry Steam Plant, an off shore oil rig, an oil refinery, and the Main control Room of Ala. Power Co. in Mobile that controls power dist. for all of southwest Ala. The Mobile Section of the Instrument Society Of America usually took plant tours every other month. I loved them all. Caleb’s tour of Hyundai has infected me with the urge to go. I’d love to tour it with Caleb and Andy. If you plan it and it’s possible, count me in (Grandy too).—-Love, Pappy

    — Pappy    Oct 25, 10:36 PM    #

  5. I am so glad that I was a part of that tour. I was not looking forward to it but I very much enjoyed it and was so amazed. I loved seeing Caleb having so much fun.

    I will check on the power plant and see if we can do that when he comes next. We will also go to the Bass Pro Shop.

    I Love you!

    MIMI

    — MIMI    Oct 26, 09:50 AM    #

  6. The Mobile Press Register moved into a new building a couple of years ago. We were unable to go to the grand opening, but I hear tours are available. We will plan one when you all are down here sometime. I would love to see them make that newspaper that I can hardly start my day without.

    — Grandy    Oct 30, 09:46 AM    #

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