<P> Numerous new automobile production plants have opened in the region, or are soon to open, such as Mercedes - Benz in Tuscaloosa, Alabama; Hyundai in Montgomery, Alabama; the BMW production plant in Spartanburg, South Carolina; Toyota plants in Georgetown, Kentucky, Blue Springs, Mississippi and San Antonio; the GM manufacturing plant in Spring Hill, Tennessee; a Honda factory in Lincoln, Alabama; the Nissan North American headquarters in Franklin, Tennessee and factories in Smyrna, Tennessee and Canton, Mississippi; a Kia factory in West Point, Georgia; and the Volkswagen Chattanooga Assembly Plant in Tennessee . </P> <P> The two largest research parks in the country are located in the South: Research Triangle Park in North Carolina (the world's largest) and the Cummings Research Park in Huntsville, Alabama (the world's fourth largest). </P> <P> In medicine, the Texas Medical Center in Houston has achieved international recognition in education, research, and patient care, especially in the fields of heart disease, cancer, and rehabilitation . In 1994 the Texas Medical Center was the largest medical center in the world including fourteen hospitals, two medical schools, four colleges of nursing, and six university systems . The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center is consistently ranked the #1 cancer research and treatment center in the United States . </P> <P> Many major banking corporations have headquarters in the region . Bank of America is in Charlotte, North Carolina . Wachovia was headquartered there before its purchase by Wells Fargo . Regions Financial Corporation is in Birmingham, as is AmSouth Bancorporation, and BBVA Compass . SunTrust Banks is located in Atlanta as is the district headquarters of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta . BB&T is headquartered in Winston - Salem . </P>

Strong family of virginia and other southern states