Hyundai marked a major milestone at its Alabama plant on Feb. 21, as company officials, employees and community leaders celebrated the launch of the first Genesis Electrified GV70 SUV.

It’s the first model from Hyundai’s luxury division to be assembled in the U.S. and the first to be assembled outside of South Korea. It also marks a significant new era for the Montgomery plant.

“Hyundai Motor Group has set a clear direction for the organization’s future mobility solutions that includes innovative designs propelled by batteries or hydrogen fuel cells,” said Ernie Kim, president and CEO of Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama.

CULLMAN, Ala. — Tuesday marked 25 years since the first Mercedes M-Class came off the assembly line at the company’s plant in Vance, Alabama. It was the moment which ushered in the birth of Alabama’s modern automotive industry. Today, the state has five automotive manufacturing plants and is poised to produce 1.3 million vehicles each year, the third highest total nationwide.

“I don’t think I ever would have dreamed that Alabama would be in the position that we are in now,” admitted Alabama Secretary of Commerce Greg Canfield. “Our economy is much more diverse, the automotive sector is substantial in our state and we really have become in Alabama, an international juggernaut as it relates to exports.”

Buying an electric vehicle could now come with a hefty tax credit. There are plenty of stipulations to keep in mind, however.

The Internal Revenue Service Clean Vehicle Tax Credit provides a $7,500 tax credit for qualified plug-in electric or fuel cell vehicles purchased and put into service on Jan. 1 or later. Among the manufacturers qualifying for the credit include vehicles made by Honda, Ford, General Motors, Hyundai, Kia, Nissan, Subaru, and Tesla. You can see a complete list of qualifying vehicles here.

(iSeeCars) — Electric vehicles (EVs) are gaining market share at a rapid pace, with sales of EVs growing by 85 percent from 2020 to 2021 according to the U.S. Department of Energy. That number is expected to grow further in 2022 as more new all-electric models enter the market and as gas prices remain elevated.

As many consumers consider an electric vehicle for their next car purchase, they may be curious about how these electric vehicles work. After all, today’s electric cars look and drive like traditional gas-powered cars, but it’s important to understand the differences between these two vehicle types.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Starting Jan. 1, many Americans will qualify for a tax credit of up to $7,500 for buying an electric vehicle. The credit, part of changes enacted in the Inflation Reduction Act, is designed to spur EV sales and reduce greenhouse emissions.

But a complex web of requirements, including where vehicles and batteries must be manufactured to qualify, is casting doubt on whether anyone can receive the full $7,500 credit next year.

A plant that makes fast charging stations for electric vehicles is planning its first U.S. location in Auburn.

ADS-TEC Energy today announced an $8 million project which is expected to create about 180 jobs.

The company plans a sales, warehousing and assembly facility that should be operational by 2024. Hiring has already begun, according to the company.

ADS-TEC Energy uses lithium-ion technology to create rapid electric charging stations, with battery buffers that allow for fast charging without the need to expand power grids.

New electric vehicle (EV) charging stations are coming to communities across Alabama, thanks to more than $2.45 million in grants awarded by Gov. Kay Ivey.

The 18 grants will be used to install charging stations along highways in several areas of the state.

“As many of Alabama’s automobile manufacturers gear production toward electric vehicles, Alabama must be ready to provide the charging infrastructure needed for those who choose to drive these vehicles,” Ivey said in a news release.

“It is important for Alabama to have electric vehicle charging stations in many locations, so that we can meet the needs of Alabama motorists who choose to drive an electric vehicle, as well as out-of-state drivers who are visiting or passing through our state.”

The City of Helena recently received a grant from the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs for electric vehicle charging infrastructure.

A charging station that can facilitate two cars at one time will be built at the Helena Sports Complex.

MONTGOMERY — New electric-vehicle charging stations may be coming to a community near you, thanks to more than $2.45 million in grants awarded by Gov. Kay Ivey.

The 18 grants awarded by the governor will be used for new charging stations along highways in several areas of the state.

 “As many of Alabama’s automobile manufacturers gear production toward electric vehicles, Alabama must be ready to provide the charging infrastructure needed for those who choose to drive these vehicles,” Gov. Ivey said. “It is important for Alabama to have electric vehicle charging stations in many locations so that we can meet the needs of Alabama motorists who choose to drive an electric vehicle as well as out-of-state drivers who are visiting or passing through our state.”

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — A Korean automotive parts company plans to open a $205 million factory that will supply 200,000 battery modules annually for electric vehicles produced in Alabama and Georgia, officials said Thursday.

The 450,000-square-foot (41,800-square-meter) factory planned by Hyundai Mobis will be located near Alabama’s capital at the site where Hyundai has been assembling vehicles for more than a decade. Production of battery assemblies is expected to start in 2024, the company said.