Alabama
Growth in Alabama’s auto supply chain accelerates with major investments – Alabama News Center
Alabama’s automotive industry continues its impressive expansion, with new growth projects and investments from key automotive suppliers adding momentum to the sector.
Over the last few years, the state’s auto manufacturing sector has attracted more than $5 billion in new capital investment, generating around 8,500 job commitments in projects tracked by the Alabama Department of Commerce between 2020 and 2023.
“These investments are a testament to Alabama’s strength as a leading player in the global automotive supply chain,” said Ellen McNair, secretary of the Alabama Department of Commerce. “We’ve built a business-friendly environment where automotive suppliers, large and small, can grow and thrive.
“This growth is creating quality jobs and solidifying Alabama’s standing as a top location for advanced manufacturing in the U.S.”
The most recent development came this month when Mobis broke ground on a $52 million, 460,000-square-foot expansion in Montgomery aimed at enhancing its aftermarket parts operations for Hyundai’s and Kia’s dealer networks across the nation.
Mobis broke ground on a $52 million, 460,000-square-foot expansion in Montgomery aimed at enhancing its aftermarket parts operations for Hyundai’s and Kia’s dealer networks. The project will create 27 jobs. (Montgomery Chamber)
The new facility will create 27 additional jobs with an average wage of more than $28 per hour, further strengthening Montgomery’s status as a critical hub for the automotive industry. Learn about Hyundai’s Montgomery plant.
Mobis has invested $475 million in Montgomery since 2002, when it launched operations there, and the company has more than 1,500 employees at the growing site.
“Investment by existing industries is the highest compliment we can receive, and Mobis has demonstrated its commitment by reinvesting in this facility,” said Anna Buckalew, president and CEO of the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce. “Over the past 20 years, partnerships and relationships have been the foundation of our success.
“Connecting and supporting our existing industries ensures they continue to grow and thrive,” she said.
In addition to Mobis, other automotive suppliers have also announced substantial projects across the state. In Opelika, Daewon America recently committed to a $46.2 million expansion that will add 100 jobs at its facility in the Northeast Industrial Park.
Daewon’s total investment in Opelika now exceeds $164 million since it began operations in the city in 2006, according to John Sweatman, Opelika’s economic development director.
“Opelika has been an incredibly supportive home for our United States headquarters,” said Chris Cho, president of Daewon America. “We are proud to continue expanding our operations here and further strengthen our ties to the community.”
The additions at Daewon are expected to be completed in summer 2027.
Meanwhile, in Cullman, Rehau recently completed a $66 million investment to introduce a new paint line at its plant, which has created 50 new jobs. Rehau, the first automotive supplier to follow Mercedes-Benz to Alabama, now employs more than 770 people in Cullman and continues to expand its footprint in the region.
In August, Rehau marked the completion of a $66 million investment to introduce a new paint line at its Cullman plant, which has created 50 new jobs. (Hal Yeager / Governor’s Office)
“Rehau’s investment demonstrates the value of Alabama’s workforce and the supportive business environment we’ve cultivated,” said Dale Greer, director of the Cullman Economic Development Authority. “This expansion is proof of the company’s continued confidence in Cullman and Alabama as key locations for their operations.”
Alabama’s automotive industry, launched in the 1990s, has rapidly grown into a national powerhouse. As companies like Mobis, Daewon America and Rehau continue to expand their operations, the state remains a key destination for automotive manufacturing and supply chain growth.
With a strong foundation and an ever-expanding network of suppliers and manufacturers, Alabama’s auto industry shows no signs of slowing down.
This story originally appeared on the Alabama Department of Commerce’s Made in Alabama website. The Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce, the City of Opelika and the Cullman Tribune supplied material for this story.
Alabama
Top-30 overall recruit Jaxon Richardson commits to Alabama
Jaxon Richardson, the No. 27 overall recruit in the 2026 class per the Rivals Industry Ranking, has committed to Alabama.
The 6-foot-6 four-star small forward out of Southeastern Prep (FL) ultimately chose the Crimson Tide over USC, Creighton, and Ole Miss. He also received offers from Miami, Cincinnati, Michigan, Florida, Villanova, and others.
Richardson, a McDonald’s All-American, becomes the Crimson Tide’s third commitment of the 2026 cycle. He joins four-star shooting guard Qayden Samuels (No. 28 NATL) and four-star small forward Tarris Bouie (No. 54 NATL).
He’s the son of NBA veteran and two-time NBA Dunk Contest champion Jason Richardson. His older brother, Jase, played for Michigan State last season before being selected 25th overall in the 2025 NBA Draft by the Orlando Magic.
More on Richardson
Rivals’ National Recruiting Analyst Jamie Shaw says Richardson is one of the most explosive players in the 2026 class:
Jaxon Richardson is able to combine fluid athleticism with explosive burst in a way no other player in this class can. He uses his athleticism to his advantage on the floor. He fills the outside channels with a purpose in transition, he is aggressive in the passing lanes, and he plays as a vertical floor spacer in the dunker spots and lob plays. Last summer, playing with the Florida Rebels on Nike’s EYBL Circuit, the 6-foot-6 wing averaged 12.8 points on 54.0 percent shooting and 10.5 attempts per game. Last high school season, he averaged 12.9 points on 61.0 percent shooting on 8.9 attempts per game. He is a highly efficient player, as 84.4 percent of his makes last high school season were at the rim.
Alabama
Alabama Baseball Ties Stolen Base Record In Win Over Hornets
Alabama baseball cruised to a win over Alabama State on Wednesday night, beating the Hornets 13-4 to complete the season sweep. The Crimson Tide tied a program record with nine stolen bases in one of the stranger contests that will be played this season.
The tone was set for a tumultuous night on the basepaths in the opening minutes of the game. Leadoff batter Bryce Fowler, who exited Tuesday’s game after getting beaned in the head, was walked, and promptly took second base. He advanced to third on a wild pitch in Justin Lebron’s at-bat, paving the way for Lebron to steal second when he was ultimately walked as well.
The successful baserunning instantly paid off, as Brady Neal drove both in with a double to left-center field before John Lemm walked two at-bats later. Both runners stole their respective bases on the same pitch in Jason Torres’ plate appearance, meaning that four of the first five batters of the game stole a base.
Alabama has been exceptional on the basepaths, sitting at 30-for-30 on the season. Lebron, who swiped two bags on Wednesday, leads the team with 12. The junior had an up-and-down night, hitting his eighth home run of the season, but also committing an error at shortstop for the fourth consecutive game.
“Get those things out of there now, baby. The dude is unbelievable,” an unconcerned Rob Vaughn said on Tuesday of Lebron’s errors. “We’re going to look up at the end of the year, and that guy is going to have five or six errors, which one he’s got right now, and we’ll be like, ‘Man, that guy is the best of all time to do it.’”
Wednesday’s game was a very prototypical midweek contest with no shortage of quirks and oddities throughout its nearly four-hour runtime. Fifteen Alabama batters were walked, falling just one shy of the program record, and the hit by pitch record was tied as seven batters were plunked.
The game was never competitive from an on-field standpoint. After barely escaping with a 2-1 win in the first matchup with the Hornets two weeks ago, this was a far more accurate representation of what these games typically look like, as Alabama now leads the all-time series 15-0.
Freshman Joe Chiarodo made his first career start, allowing two hits and one walk over two scoreless innings. He was named the winning pitcher. Luke Smyers, Connor Lehman, Anthony Pesci and Tate Robertson were the other pitchers to take the mound. Lehman allowed a three-run blast in the sixth inning, and those were the only runs until the incredibly-named Skywalker Mann drove in a run off Robertson in the ninth.
Perhaps the most shocking figure from the game was that Alabama had 19 runners left on base. The Crimson Tide left the bases loaded in four different innings. As stated, this was just a bizarre baseball game across the board. With the midweeks out of the way, the Crimson Tide gets to prepare for its final weekend tune-up before SEC play as North Florida heads into Tuscaloosa on Friday.
Alabama
New Alabama law to set screen time limits for kids in day care, pre-K and kindergarten
The Healthy Early Development and Screen Time Act was signed on Wednesday, March 4, by Governor Kay Ivey to introduce limits on children’s screen time access in Alabama.
The Act is one of Ivey’s 2026 legislative priorities.
“Video screen access in classrooms can boost learning skills among our young children, but too much screen exposure can also be detrimental, harming critical social and cognitive development,” Ivey said. “The Healthy Early Development and Screen Time Act ensures our youngest students are provided a healthy balance of screen time and traditional learning in order to protect social and emotional development.”
Under the Healthy Early Development and Screen Time Act, the Alabama Department of Early Childhood Education will be required to work with the Department of Human Resources and the State Department of Education to develop guidelines for screen-based media.
Guidelines will be implemented in early childhood education programs like day care centers, day care homes, night care facilities, pre-kindergarten, kindergarten and group day care homes. The Act was sponsored by Representative Jeana Ross and Senator Donnie Chesteen.
“House Bill 78 establishes clear, research-based expectations for how technology is used in early childhood settings,” said Ross. “The goal is not to eliminate technology, but to ensure its use is developmentally appropriate and never replaces the hands-on learning and human interaction young children need most. By setting thoughtful guardrails and aligning classroom practices with the best available research on early brain development, this legislation supports educators, protects the quality of early learning and reinforces our commitment to giving Alabama’s youngest students the strongest possible start.”
A training program will also be created by the Department of Early Childhood Education to create a baseline for the appropriate use of child screentime for teachers and staff members supervising children.
“The Healthy Early Development and Screen Time Act represents another important step in ensuring Alabama’s youngest children grow and learn in environments that prioritize human interaction, exploration and healthy development,” said Chesteen. “Building on the progress made with last year’s FOCUS Act, this legislation continues our commitment to protecting the most formative years of childhood. I am grateful to Governor Kay Ivey and my colleagues in the Legislature for recognizing the importance of this issue and working together to support Alabama families.”
The Healthy Early Development and Screen Time Act will become effective on January 1, 2027.
-
World1 week agoExclusive: DeepSeek withholds latest AI model from US chipmakers including Nvidia, sources say
-
Wisconsin4 days agoSetting sail on iceboats across a frozen lake in Wisconsin
-
Massachusetts1 week agoMother and daughter injured in Taunton house explosion
-
Maryland5 days agoAM showers Sunday in Maryland
-
Massachusetts3 days agoMassachusetts man awaits word from family in Iran after attacks
-
Florida5 days agoFlorida man rescued after being stuck in shoulder-deep mud for days
-
Denver, CO1 week ago10 acres charred, 5 injured in Thornton grass fire, evacuation orders lifted
-
Oregon6 days ago2026 OSAA Oregon Wrestling State Championship Results And Brackets – FloWrestling