Hyundai made two announcements today. May 20 is the 20th anniversary of working in Alabama. Also Hyundai is offering more EV charging features including paying for charging in the MyHyundai and BlueLink app, plus automatic payments through IONNA, Tesla Superchargers and xome Chargepoint stations.
Hyundai Marks 20 Years in Alabama With Festivities, $100,000 in Community Donations
MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama (HMMA) celebrated two decades of production with a festive Team Member Appreciation Day on May 3, 2025, drawing thousands of employees, families, and community guests to its Montgomery campus. The event featured carnival rides, food, games, live music by Jermaine Dupri and Friends, and a fireworks finale.
In honor of the anniversary, the automaker’s philanthropic arms presented two $50,000 donations—one from Genesis Gives to Alabama State University and another from the Genesis Inspiration Foundation to the Alabama Shakespeare Festival.
“Our 20th anniversary marks a notable milestone,” said Chris Susock, HMMA’s President and CEO. “What hasn’t changed is the strength of this team. Together we’ve built more than vehicles—we’ve built a family.”
Since beginning operations in 2005 with the Hyundai Sonata, the plant has produced over 6.27 million vehicles and now turns out roughly 360,000 units annually, including hybrids and electric models. Hyundai’s $3 billion investment in the facility has helped create over 40,000 jobs across Alabama.
Alabama Secretary of Commerce Ellen McNair called the milestone “a transformational engine” for the state’s economy, generating over $5 billion annually. The plant’s official 20th production anniversary will be observed on May 20, 2025.
Hyundai Rolls Out Streamlined EV Charging Tools With New App Features
The automaker announced Monday it’s launching two new features—plug and charge, and in-app charging—that aim to simplify the public charging experience for Hyundai’s expanding lineup of EVs. These new capabilities, integrated into the MyHyundai with Bluelink smartphone app, are designed to eliminate common charging hassles while giving drivers more control over when, where, and how they charge.
The upgrades arrive as Hyundai continues to position itself as a tech-forward competitor in the EV market. “Our award-winning MyHyundai with Bluelink app has already raised the bar for convenience,” said Manish Mehrotra, vice president of digital business planning and connected operations at Hyundai Motor North America. “Now, with plug and charge and in-app charging, we’re taking things further—streamlining how our customers power up their vehicles and improving the overall ownership experience.”
App-Based Charging Without the App Shuffle
With in-app charging, Hyundai drivers can now locate, access, and pay for public EV charging directly through the MyHyundai app—no more bouncing between third-party apps or fumbling with credit cards. The feature, available on models like the 2025 IONIQ 5 and upcoming 2026 IONIQ 9, integrates Hyundai Pay, allowing users to load a card and handle payments with just a few taps.
The app also provides real-time charger availability, step-by-step navigation to stations, and the ability to monitor charging sessions as they happen. EV owners can plan trips with charger routing and even send a station’s location straight to their car’s infotainment system.
Supported charging networks at launch include IONNA, Tesla Supercharger, ChargePoint and its roaming partners, and EVgo. Hyundai plans to expand network support over time.
Plug In, Charge Up, Drive Away
For an even more seamless experience, Hyundai is introducing plug and charge technology—letting eligible EVs handle authentication and payment automatically at supported chargers. Once the feature is activated in the app, drivers simply plug in and walk away. The station recognizes the car, kicks off the charge, and bills the customer on the back end—no app, no card, no problem.
Initially, plug and charge will work at IONNA stations, select Tesla Superchargers, and ChargePoint locations where the feature is supported. Like the in-app charging feature, it’s debuting on the IONIQ 5 and IONIQ 9 and will expand to all future Hyundai electric models.
EV Life, Simplified
The announcement comes as Hyundai continues investing in technologies that make EV life more accessible—especially as more Californians make the switch to electric under the state’s ambitious emissions goals. Hyundai’s Bluelink app has already gained attention for letting drivers remotely check vehicle status, use their phones as keys, and even tap into surround-view camera feeds.
With the addition of simplified charging, Hyundai is making a clear play for EV convenience—and for customers who may have been wary of public charging complexity.
“These are the kinds of tools that help turn electric driving from a niche to the norm,” Mehrotra said.
The new charging features are live now for eligible vehicles, with broader support and additional network integration expected in the months ahead.
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