Hyundai Demonstrates Commitment to STEM Education Through Alabama Hydrogen Grand Prix

MONTGOMERY, Ala., May 6, 2026 – Hyundai reinforced its long-standing commitment to science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education by hosting Montgomery Public School (MPS) students at the Alabama Hydrogen Grand Prix. The event reflects Hyundai’s ongoing investment in hands-on, experiential learning through Hyundai Hope, the company’s corporate social responsibility initiative focused on developing the next generation of innovators.

Supporting the communities where its employees live and work remains a key priority for Hyundai. Through partnerships with trusted nonprofit organizations and direct support of local school systems, Hyundai continues to expand access to high-quality STEM education and career-focused learning opportunities in Alabama and beyond.

STEP Foundation Partnership: Hydrogen Powered Learning in Montgomery

Hosted in partnership with the STEP Foundation and Horizon Education, the Alabama Hydrogen Grand Prix engages middle and high school students in real-world engineering challenges through the Hyundai RC Program. Students design, build and race hydrogen-powered RC cars, learning core engineering principles, renewable energy concepts and automotive technologies.

This year, 10 teams from Montgomery Public Schools competed in stock and modified categories. The schools represented in the competition were Carver High School, Percy Julian High School, Loveless Academic Magnet Program (LAMP) High School, Carr Middle School, and Goodwyn Middle School. Winning teams will receive an invitation to the June 2026 World Championships in Bulle, Switzerland.

The program emphasizes career and technical education (CTE) readiness by developing practical skills such as teamwork, problem-solving, project management and collaboration—skills directly aligned with future careers in engineering and advanced manufacturing.

The winning teams showing off their medals following the Alabama Hydrogen Grand Prix at the Multiplex at Cramton Bowl in Montgomery, Ala. on May 6, 2026.

Expanding STEM Access Through SAE A World In Motion® (AWIM®)

Hyundai has also expanded its partnership with the SAE Foundation to bring SAE International’s A World In Motion® (AWIM®) PreK–12 STEM curriculum to Montgomery Public Schools. Nearly 1,000 sixth-grade students are participating in the AWIM Gravity Cruiser Challenge, which tasks students with designing and constructing gravity-powered vehicles while exploring concepts such as energy, inertia and momentum.

The hands-on, inquiry-based curriculum is designed to improve student engagement and performance in STEM subjects, strengthen problem-solving and teamwork skills, and raise awareness of future engineering and technical career paths.

Significant Investment in Montgomery Public Schools

Hyundai’s commitment to STEM education in Alabama is reflected in the scale of its investment in Montgomery Public Schools this year. For MPS, Hyundai’s support includes a $38,850 SAE Foundation grant and an $85,000 investment dedicated to the Hydrogen Grand Prix program.

Additional investments by Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama (HMMA) include HMMA’s Manufacturing the Future with Hyundai program and the sponsorship of MPS’s Back 2 School Bash. Combined, Hyundai’s investments in Montgomery Public Schools total more than $150,000 this year, underscoring the company’s deep commitment to education and workforce development in the region.

Commitment to Future Innovators

“At Hyundai, we believe education is one of the most powerful drivers of opportunity and long-term success for every child,” said Brandon Ramirez, director of corporate social responsibility, Hyundai Motor North America. “That belief is central to our Progress for Humanity vision and guides our commitment to expanding access to hands-on, high-quality STEM education that helps prepare students for the careers and challenges of tomorrow.”

Through initiatives like the Alabama Hydrogen Grand Prix and AWIM curriculum, Hyundai continues to support STEM education while building pathways for students to pursue future careers in engineering, advanced manufacturing and the mobility industry.

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Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama (HMMA), headquartered in Montgomery, Ala., is an independent manufacturing operation of Hyundai Motor Company, based in Seoul, Korea. In addition to producing the Hyundai Santa Fe, Santa Fe Hybrid, Tucson, and Santa Cruz, HMMA is deeply invested in the communities where its 4,200 team members live and work. Through corporate donations, employee-driven giving, and community partnerships, HMMA supports initiatives focused on education, health, cultural arts, diversity, and environmental sustainability throughout Central Alabama. For more information, visit www.hmmausa.com.

Hyundai Motor America Hyundai Motor America offers U.S. consumers a technology-rich lineup of cars, SUVs, and electrified vehicles, while supporting Hyundai Motor Company’s Progress for Humanity vision. Hyundai has significant operations in the U.S., including its North American headquarters in California, the Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama assembly plant, the all-new Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America, several cutting-edge R&D facilities and more than 855 independent dealers. These operations are part of Hyundai Motor Group, which is investing $26 billion in the U.S. from 2025 to 2028. For more information, visit www.hyundainews.com.

Hyundai Hope Hyundai Hope is the corporate social responsibility initiative from Hyundai Motor North America, committed to the principle of Progress for Humanity and the goal of improving the well-being of society. Hyundai Hope dedicates time, talent, and resources to nonprofit organizations that support health, safety, education, and sustainability, fostering positive growth in communities. For more information, visit www.HyundaiHope.com.