Hyundai Motor Group (the Group) announced it has entered into an agreement with the State of Georgia to build its first dedicated full electric vehicle and battery manufacturing facilities in the U.S.
The Group’s U.S. investment decision will support its goal of becoming a leader in electric mobility in the U.S. market. It also highlights the Group’s commitment to sustainability through electrification and to supporting the economies where it operates, the statement said.
The official signing ceremony was held in Bryan County, attended by Georgia Governor Brian P. Kemp and other Georgia officials as well as Hyundai Motor Company President and CEO, Jaehoon Chang, and Hyundai Motor President and Chief Operating Officer José Muñoz. Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Euisun Chung joined the signing ceremony virtually.
“The future of transportation is in the Peach State as we announce the largest project in our state’s history – delivering high-quality jobs on the leading edge of mobility to hardworking Georgians,” said Governor Brian Kemp. “Not only are we thrilled to welcome Hyundai to Georgia’s coastal region, but it’s incredible that within a year of Georgia’s investment in the Bryan County Megasite, we are locating a world-class project here with a company with great Georgia history!”
“As one of the world’s most successful and advanced mobility leaders, we are incredibly proud to share our plan to open our first dedicated full EV and battery manufacturing facilities in the U.S.,” said Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Euisun Chung. “The U.S. has always held an important place in the Group’s global strategy, and we are excited to partner with the State of Georgia to achieve our shared goal of electrified mobility and sustainability in the U.S.”
The new EV plant and battery manufacturing facilities represent an investment of approximately USD 5.54 billion. The new facility will break ground in early 2023 and is expected to begin commercial production in the first half of 2025 with an annual capacity of 300,000 units. The battery manufacturing facility will be established through a strategic partnership, which the details will be disclosed at a later stage.
The EV and battery manufacturing plant will be located on a dedicated 2,923-acre site in Bryan County Georgia, with immediate access to I-95 and I-16 highways which creates easy access to 250 major metro areas. It is less than 50 kilometers from the Port of Savannah, the single-largest and fastest-growing container terminal in the U.S. with two Class I rail facilities on-site provided by Georgia Central Railway. West Point, Georgia is already home to the Group’s Kia manufacturing hub in the US, according to the statement.
Continuing the Group’s support for the U.S. economy, the project is expected to create about 8,100 new jobs, a statement said.
The EV plant investment comes as a part of the Group’s 2021 announcement to invest USD 7.4 billion by 2025 to foster future mobility in the U.S., including production of EVs and offering smart mobility solutions.
“We decided to build our first dedicated EV plant in the U.S. because America embraces change and drives innovation,” said Jaehoon Chang, President and CEO of Hyundai Motor. “This new EV plant is the future of our business, and It will help us meet the growing demands of our US customers who want leading edge design, safe, zero-emissions vehicles now and in the future”.
The new plant will boast a highly connected, automated, and flexible manufacturing system, which organically connects all elements of the EV ecosystem to realize customer value.
The Group plans to implement many of its advanced intelligent manufacturing technologies that are currently under test at the Group’s innovation hub, the Hyundai Motor Group Innovation Center in Singapore (HMGICS).
The Georgia facility will become an intelligent manufacturing plant. All processes of production – order collection, procurement, logistics and production – will be optimized utilizing AI and data. The innovative manufacturing system will also help create a human-centered work environment with robots assisting human workers.
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