Hyundai Motor Group
Today, Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America (HMGMA) marked the inauguration of its latest manufacturing plant located just outside Savannah, Georgia. This state-of-the-art facility positions HMG as a frontrunner in localized vehicle production, encompassing upcoming models.
Hyundai Ioniq 9 SUV
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As part of an overall $7.59 billion commitment in Bryan County, Georgia, HMG has established a partnership to develop a 30-gigawatt-hour battery facility alongside LG Energy Solution (LGES) through a joint venture. This addition complements the operations at HMG’s SK On battery plant located in Commerce, Georgia, both aimed at supplying batteries for HMG’s electric vehicles. With this latest contribution, HMG’s cumulative investment within the state now totals $12.6 billion. Notably, this newly announced location stands out as the most significant economic development initiative ever undertaken in Georgia.
“HMGMA represents a once-in-a-generation chance, facilitated by our dedication to collaborating with those who create jobs, aiming to establish productive partnerships lasting for many years. The collaborations between HMGMA and educational institutions like Georgia’s universities and technical colleges—including the on-site training facilities provided by Georgia Quick Start—are equipping Georgians with skills needed for both current and future high-paying positions. Additionally, our prize-winning infrastructure, which includes our ports, links businesses to domestic and international markets across the country and world,” stated Georgia’s Governor.
Brian Kemp
The opening ceremony was attended by Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chairman Chung, U.S. Representative Buddy Carter, Hyundai Motor Group Vice Chairman Jaehoon Chang, Hyundai Motor Company President and CEO José Muñoz, and Kia Corporation President and CEO Ho Sung Song.
The parent company of Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis automobile brands is HMG.
Hyundai Mobis
A smart mobility corporation, Hyundai Transys which is an automotive components maker, Hyundai Glovis being a logistics firm, along with Hyundai Steel.
This marks the company’s second facility in Georgia. The first one, located in West Point as Kia Georgia, produces the Telluride, Sorento, Sportage, EV9, and EV6 SUVs. Additionally, this is their third manufacturing site within the southeastern region of the U.S. Another operation, Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama situated in Montgomery, manufactures models such as the Hyundai Tucson, Santa Fe, and Santa Fe Hybrid SUVs, along with the Hyundai Santa Cruz pickup truck and the Genesis GV70 SUV.
HMGMA encompasses 16 million square feet of manufacturing area and will be capable of producing up to 500,000 units per year when it reaches full operation.
Construction of the facility began in January 2023.
The location of the site is advantageously situated near Interstate 16, in proximity to both Interstate 95 and the Port of Savannah, with connections to Class 1 railway lines. In the U.S., Class 1 railways are specifically classified for handling freight transport.
HMGMA utilizes pilot-scale production methods and techniques in their processes.
Hyundai Motor Group Innovation Center in Singapore
, adjusted to handle the increased production volumes at the Georgia location.
The new manufacturing facility has its processes (order collection, procurement, logistics and production) optimized using artificial intelligence and real-time data gathering.
As part of further efforts to boost productivity, robots collaborate with human workers. The Spot robot from Boston Dynamics handles external inspections. In 2021, Hyundai purchased Boston Dynamics for $1.1 billion.
The design of the factory floor promotes interaction and teamwork through open spaces that allow natural light from skylights to flood in, along with interior greenery.
People who drive past the location on the highway can catch a glimpse of the manufacturing process as cars move along a conveyor belt from the paint shop to the main assembly section within the facility.
The parking lot at HMGMA produces solar energy through panels installed over its 1,878 spots, which covers approximately 5 percent of the facility’s overall electricity usage.
The site also features a 41-acre park with trails, running tracks, sports fields and picnic areas, all spaces the company’s workers, called
Meta
Professionals are advised to utilize.
HMG will utilize 21 XCIENT Fuel Cell trucks, which run on hydrogen fuel and have no emissions except water vapor, at the site as part of its logistics operation. This deployment marks the first step the company is making to reduce emissions from its internal logistics operations.
The Ioniq 5 was the first car manufactured at the facility, coming off the production line on October 3, 2024.
The company forecasts that HMG’s investments in Georgia will lead to the creation of 8,500 new positions at HMGMA by 2031. This would equate to approximately $4.6 billion in annual individual income, according to the Center for Automotive Research.
The activation of the facility has triggered a series of developments regarding employment and investment in Georgia. By the close of 2024, HMGMA suppliers have declared 6,900 job openings along with planned capital expenditures amounting to $2.5 billion across 12 out of the state’s 159 counties. These figures surpass expectations, nearly doubling HMG’s initial projections.
Following the firm’s declaration on Monday that it plans to pour $21 billion into the U.S. between 2025 and 2028, the new facility is set to open. This investment surpasses the cumulative $20.5 billion the corporation has spent in America since making its debut here back in 1986.
Of the $21 billion, $9 billion will be spent to increase the company’s production capacity to 1.2 million vehicles annually across its three brands. Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama and Kia Georgia will receive improved production facilities.
The company’s logistics operation will receive a $6 billion infusion as the company aims to localize production of automotive components, including battery packs, that will provide resources to the company’s manufacturing facilities. And, Hyundai Steel will build a mill in Louisiana capable of producing millions of tons of steel annually, utilizing steel scrap.
Key alliances with tech leaders including Boston Dynamics (robotics), NVIDIA (artificial intelligence solutions), Waymo (robotaxis) and Supernal (eVTOL development) to drive innovation will cost the company $6 billion. HMG sees these investments as part of its strategic mission to redefine mobility.
The last $6 billion will be allocated for energy infrastructure developments connected with fresh commercial prospects.
HMG estimates that this $21 billion investment will lead to over 100,000 new jobs, both directly and indirectly.
“Given these conditions, we anticipate automakers and suppliers will be making investment announcement statements,” said Stephanie Brinley, who serves as the associate director of AutoIntelligence at S&P Global.
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The HMG statements coincide with earlier disclosed initiatives and anticipated pathways, except for the aspect concerning U.S. steel manufacturing. As Hyundai ramps up car production in the U.S., possessing its own steel supply within the area provides them with a competitive edge, irrespective of tariff implications.
The rise in production capabilities allows for greater flexibility in procurement and quicker responsiveness to fluctuations in U.S. market demands, particularly by increasing the manufacture of electrified vehicles within the country. This enhanced capability to build more electrified vehicles domestically stems from earlier investments made in U.S.-based battery production.
She mentioned that these investments keep accumulating and reinforce the fact that it becomes more economical to produce goods near the point of sale as volumes rise,” he stated. “The declarations made by Hyundai align with the expansion goals the company has set for the U.S. market.
Updated as of March 26, 2025, at 2:25 PM ET: The annual manufacturing capacity of the facility has been revised.
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