Hyundai has promoted Mark Rader to president and chief executive officer of Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama in Montgomery. Rader succeeds Chris Susock, who has been promoted to chief manufacturing officer with Hyundai Motor North America.
Susock’s new position will oversee Hyundai’s two U.S. manufacturing operations, the Hyundai plant in Montgomery and the Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America in Bryan County, Georgia.
The leadership change comes just as the plant is celebrating its 20th anniversary. HMMA opened on May 20, 2005.
Rader previously served as senior vice president and chief operating officer. In this role, he will oversee all manufacturing, engineering and maintenance at the Alabama assembly plant and will report to Susock.
“In his time leading our team through all his many positions at HMMA, Chris set a high bar for leadership,” Rader said. “I’m humbled to be given the opportunity to follow in his footsteps. I look forward to working with our HMMA team to build on his achievements.”
Rader joined HMMA in 2003 and has held various roles at the plant, including chief quality officer. He was promoted to chief operating officer in 2024.
“While I will miss my daily work leading HMMA, I am completely confident that Mark will lead the team to new successes,” said Susock. “I look forward to supporting him in my new role as CMO at HMNA.”
“A lot has changed since the first Sonata rolled off the line in 2005. Our technology has advanced, and our processes and models have evolved,” said Susock. “But what hasn’t changed — and what has made the biggest difference — is the strength of this team. Together we have built more than vehicles and engines; we’ve built a family with a history to be proud of, on a firm foundation that many future generations of our HMMA family can learn from and build upon.”
Last week, HMMA held a Team Member Appreciation Day to celebrate the milestone, complete with musical entertainment and fireworks for the team members and their families.
For the community, in honor of the milestone, Genesis Gives presented Alabama State University with a $50,000 donation and the Genesis Inspiration Foundation presented the Alabama Shakespeare Festival with a $50,000 grant.
The Montgomery plant is the home to Hyundai Santa Fe, Santa Fe Hybrid, Tucson, Santa Cruz and the Genesis GV70 and Electrified GV70.
Since opening the plant in 2005, HMMA has produced 6.27 million vehicles. Today, the manufacturing plant produces an average of 360,000 vehicles annually for the North American market. Over the last 20 years, Hyundai has invested more than $3 billion in expansions and new technologies in the plant. It currently employs approximately 4,200 people. Directly and indirectly through its suppliers, the plant has created more than 40,000 jobs in Alabama.
