Hyundai Motor opens 3rd US production plant in Georgia

The Korea Times - Hyundai Motor Group on Wednesday (U.S. time) celebrated the opening of its new electric vehicle (EV) factory in Georgia, reinforcing its commitment to expanding production localization in the United States.

Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America (HMGMA) will serve as a strategic production base to drive the company's global growth and play a key role in realizing the future of mobility, Hyundai Motor Group said.

It will also act as a hub to strengthen economic cooperation between Korea and the United States, it added.

In the opening ceremony of HMGMA, key company officials, including Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chairman Euisun Chung and Hyundai Motor Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Jose Munoz, participated. Local government heavyweights, including Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp and Rep. Buddy Carter, also attended.

"Standing here today, I can say I have never been more confident about building the future of mobility with America, in America," said Chung, adding that Hyundai has come to Georgia "to stay, to invest and to grow."

HMGMA, located on an 11.83 million-square-meter site in Ellabell, Georgia, has an annual capacity of 300,000 cars, with plans to increase production to 500,000 units per year.

It is Hyundai Motor Group's third production facility in the U.S., following Hyundai Motor's Alabama plant and Kia Corp.'s Georgia factory.

With the completion of HMGMA, Hyundai Motor Group now has a total production capacity of 1 million cars in the U.S. per year.

Last year, Hyundai and Kia sold a combined 1.7 million vehicles in the U.S.

Before the official opening, the plant had been in partial operation since late last year, producing two EV models — the Ioniq 5 and Ioniq 9. Some Kia models will be produced at HMGMA next year.

HMGMA is designed as a software-driven factory (SDF) that utilizes data from the entire production process, incorporating the latest automation and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies.

AI analyzes production big data to detect abnormalities in advance, while advanced robots handle high-weight, high-risk processes and inspections.

The opening of HMGMA came a few days after Chung announced a $21 billion investment plan in the United States over the next three years at the White House with President Donald Trump.

The plan also includes a $5.8 billion steel mill in Louisiana to produce auto parts for Hyundai Motor Group's assembly plants in Georgia and Alabama.

Meanwhile, Trump announced a 25 percent tariff on all imported cars starting next Wednesday. The U.S. government is also set to impose country-by-country reciprocal tariffs on the same day.

Chung called for concerted efforts by the Korean government and carmakers to seek favorable deals in upcoming tariff negotiations with Washington.

"After the announcement, the government will lead tariff negotiations, and companies also have to be engaged. That's the beginning," he told reporters. "I know our investment plan can hardly affect Washington's tariff policies. We are just a company. It's a country-to-country issue." (Yonhap)

Source: https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/tech/2025/03/419_395065.html