When Chris Susock, a third-generation auto worker, came to Alabama in January 2004, there was no Hyundai Motor Manufacturing of Alabama (HMMA) yet.

“Nothing but dirt floors and lanterns,” he recalled.

Susock, after 15 years with the Ford Motor Co., was hired to establish and structure the new quality organization for the plant as senior department head. Within a year, Hyundai was making cars in Alabama.

That’s something Susock enjoys, just as his grandfather, who worked for nearly a half-century at Ford, and his father, who was with the automaker for more than 20 years.

“Building cars is in my blood. It’s what I love to do,” he said.

Now, 20 years later, Susock is the president and CEO of HMMA.

He moved into the post after serving as COO and senior vice president, as well as other management positions in the factory, which has more than 4,000 employees and more than 40,000 connected through its independent supply chain.

Hyundai contributes about $5 billion to the state’s economy and is the largest employer in the central Alabama region.

And the Montgomery factory has just gone through the most thorough transformation in its history, just in the last four years. When Hyundai came to Alabama, it began making the Sonata and Elantra sedans. But as the market changed, the demand for SUVs grew. Then came the COVID-19 pandemic, with new factory procedures and massive market uncertainty.

Hyundai continued retooling for the SUV market, and now Montgomery is making six different models – including traditional internal combustion engine SUVs, electric SUVs, hybrids, rear-wheel drive and two of the luxury Genesis models.

Susock called it the most challenging period in his two decades in Montgomery.

As other plants have had to during the last decade, Hyundai has put a premium on flexibility – in its products and procedures, to go where the market is going. Hyundai has committed not only Montgomery to an electric future, but is also building a $7.5 billion plant in Savannah to manufacture EVs.

“Flexibility in manufacturing is about being able to convert from what you’re doing because of economic or market changes, and the ability to adapt quickly to those changes,” he said.

“It’s always going to be very important. Mobility is evolving dynamically; it’s about looking to see what the market trends look like, and do we have the wherewithal to make those changes through the next decade. It’s about the future sustainability of this operation, making sure we have the ability to contribute to the industry and the business plan of Hyundai, and contribute to the River Region and the state of Alabama.”

Susock said he feels his two decades at Hyundai have helped prepare him for the challenges of the position. He wants a plant that continues to grow and serves both the community and the workforce.

But he also sees his role as being a problem solver, not just in meeting production schedules, but also in the lives of workers.

“I’m very high on encouraging people in the organization,” he said. “I want to lead by example. I take accountability for everything happens within this facility. I believe in integrity and making people feel valued, and in effective communication. And I want to make sure we can take care of issues to keep the work environment strong.

“There are things we do that we’re really proud of, and that our team members are proud of. We’re not in business just to operate a business, but we’re here to be part of the state, and support the residents of this state.”