Hyundai Motor Group has freshly announced that it has reached an agreement with Georgia to construct its first fully electric vehicle and battery manufacturing facility in the U.S.
The Group’s investment decision in the U.S. will help it achieve its goal to be a leading provider of electric mobility in America. It also highlights the Group’s commitment to sustainable electrification as well as to supporting the economies in which it operates.
Official signing ceremonies were held in Bryan County. Georgia Governor Brian P. Kemp, other Georgia officials, as well as Jaehoon Chang (Hyundai Motor CEO) and Jose Munoz (Hyundai Motor President and Chief Operating Officer), attended the ceremony. The signing ceremony was virtually attended by Euisun Chung, Executive Chair of Hyundai Motor Group.
“The Peach State is the future of transportation as we announce our largest project in state history – delivering high quality jobs on the cutting edge of mobility to hardworking Georgians.” Governor Brian Kemp said. “We are thrilled to welcome Hyundai to Georgia’s coast region. It’s amazing that we are now locating a top-notch project here with a company of great Georgia history, within one year of Georgia’s investment at the Bryan County Megasite.”
Euisun Chung, Executive Chair of Hyundai Motor Group, stated that “As one the most advanced and successful mobility leaders in the world,” he was proud to announce the plan to open the first full EV manufacturing facility in the United States. “The U.S. has been a key part of the Group’s global strategy and we are thrilled to partner with Georgia to achieve our common goal of electrified mobility in the U.S.”
The investment in the new EV plant, as well as battery manufacturing facilities, is approximately USD 5.54 trillion. The new facility is expected to be operational in 2023. It will have a capacity of 300,000. The strategic partnership that will establish the battery manufacturing facility will be revealed at a later stage.
At the new Georgia EV Plant, the Group will produce a wide range of fully electric vehicles for U.S. clients. At a later date, details about the production models will be made available. Local EV production will make it easier for Americans to access the Group’s innovative EVs. The Group’s battery manufacturing facility will allow it to create a stable supply chain in the U.S. and a healthy EV ecosystem.
Bryan County Georgia will host the EV manufacturing and assembly plant. It is located on a 2,923-acre parcel. There are immediate highway access to I-95, I-16 highways and easy access to 250 major metropolitan areas. It is located less than 50 km from the Port of Savannah. This port has two Class I rail facilities provided by Georgia Central Railway. The Group’s Kia manufacturing center in the USA is located in West Point, Georgia.
The favorable business conditions in Georgia, where Hyundai Motor Group has its EV and battery manufacturing site, include speed-to-market, talent workforce, and an existing network of suppliers and affiliates.
Georgia leads the Southeast in EV registrations per 1,000 registered cars. Georgia has more EV charging stations per capita than any other state in the Southeast, and is working to improve access to these charging stations. This new investment by the Group will accelerate the state’s transition to electrification.
The project will create approximately 8,100 jobs, continuing the Group’s support of the U.S. Economy.
The Group announced in 2021 that it would invest USD 7.4 Billion by 2025 to promote future mobility in America, including the production of EVs as well as smart mobility solutions.
Hyundai Motor Group will lead the US electrified mobility market
With the new facility, Hyundai Motor Group will lead the U.S. EV transition.
The Group is increasing its efforts to electrify, with a global goal of selling 3.23 million fully electric vehicles per year by 2030. The Group is establishing a global EV production network to ensure a steady supply of EVs all over the world in order to achieve this goal.
Jaehoon Chang (President and CEO of Hyundai Motor) stated that the United States is a country that embraces innovation and change. “This new EV-plant is the future for our business and it will help us meet growing demands from our US customers, who are looking for safe, low-emission vehicles that are innovative, reliable, and affordable”.
The Group plans to be one of the three top EV providers in America by 2026, thanks to the increased EV and battery production capabilities. The Group intends to be a leader in the EV market in terms of sales and design, technologies and mobility solutions that are optimized for electric mobility.
This investment is in keeping with the U.S. government’s roadmap to accelerate electrification. Global OEMs have announced plans to increase their local EV production in America. In fact, last year the U.S. government announced a new initiative that would see zero-emission vehicles account for at least half the new vehicle sales of OEMs by 2030.
The Future of Group’s Smart Manufacturing: Intelligent and Sustainable, Data-driven
The new plant will feature a highly connected, automated and flexible manufacturing system that organically connects all components of the EV ecosystem in order to deliver customer value.
Many of the Group’s advanced manufacturing technologies, including those currently being tested at its innovation hub, Hyundai Motor Group Innovation Centre in Singapore (HMGICS), will be implemented by the Group.
Georgia’s facility will be transformed into an intelligent manufacturing plant. All production processes – order collection and procurement, logistics, and production – will be optimized using AI and data. This innovative manufacturing system will create a human-centered working environment, with robots supporting human workers.
The Group’s commitment towards sustainability means that the plant will rely primarily on renewable energy sources for power and use emission reduction technologies to meet the RE100 requirements.