Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America (HMGMA), initially announced as a $5.54 billion investment and later expanded to a $7.6 billion mega-campus in Bryan County, Georgia, represents the largest economic development project in the state’s history. Spanning over 2,200 acres near Savannah, the facility officially commenced initial manufacturing operations in late 2024 with the assembly of the Hyundai Ioniq 5, followed by the three-row Ioniq 9 SUV. The plant utilizes advanced smart-factory automation, replacing traditional conveyor belts with autonomous guided vehicles and featuring dedicated rail infrastructure to handle logistics.
To power the assembly facility, Hyundai established key joint-venture battery operations within the state. In mid-2026, Hyundai and SK On officially launched commercial production at their $5 billion joint battery plant in Bartow County, Georgia, designed to produce up to 35 gigawatt-hours of battery cells annually. This energy is enough to power approximately 300,000 electric vehicles per year. This is complemented by an additional $4.3 billion battery joint venture with LG Energy Solution (HL-GA Battery Company) adjacent to the main campus. Despite broader shifts in federal EV policies and adjustments in market demand, Hyundai has maintained its commitment to scaling operations, targeting an eventual workforce of over 8,100 employees across its vehicle assembly and battery supply networks.
Other than this mega facility, Hyundai has continued conducting business in the US. Recently, Hyundai inked a major data center power supply contract in US, marking its largest ever.
May 24, 2022
Governor Brian Kemp and President Jay Chang of the Hyundai Motor Company, both announced recently the development of a US$ 5.5bn Hyundai EV Plant in Georgia, which is expected to become the third-largest manufacturer of electric vehicles in the US by 2026, with a production capacity of 300,000 vehicles per year.
The details of this project were made public at the site of the future Hyundai EV Plant, which is just a portion of the US$ 61M flat, sprawling tract of land located near the Port of Savannah in Bryan County; this property was purchased last year by the local officials in hopes of attracting a major manufacturer.
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Expectations for the Hyundai EV Plant in Georgia
The new Hyundai EV Plant in Georgia will be the first U.S. plant to be built by the South Korean company, intended for the assembly and production of electric vehicles. According to the company, this new plant would also provide employment opportunities for up to 8,500 people.
Governor Kemp, supported the move for the Hyundai EV Plant, stating that the new development would give hardworking Georgian citizens an opportunity to get high paying and advanced manufacturing jobs with a great company. He also predicted that the new Georgia plant would become a major customer of Savannah’s Port and play a huge role in bringing more wealth and opportunities to the region.
Not much was said concerning the vehicle models that would be produced at the new Hyundai EV Plant, but Euisun Chung the chairman of Hyundai Motors mentioned that the Georgia plant would produce a variety of exciting innovative electric vehicles suited for its American customers.
Construction on the plant is scheduled to begin by January 2023, with its delivery date set for the first half of 2025.
Project Factsheet
Official Name: Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America (HMGMA)
Location: Bryan County Megasite, Ellabell, Georgia
Site Footprint: 2,284 acres (megasite area) with over 16 million square feet of factory floor space
Direct Capital Investment: $7.59 Billion – $7.6 Billion (expanded from initial $5.54B announcement)
Total Georgia Impact Investment: $12.6 Billion (includes HMGMA campus + SK On and LG Energy Solution joint venture battery plants)
Target Production Capacity:
Initial: 300,000 units/year
Expandable: 500,000 units/year
Brands Produced: Hyundai, Genesis, and Kia
Direct Workforce: 8,500 direct on-site employees (“Meta Pros”) target by 2031
Supplier and Regional Jobs: 6,900 additional direct supplier jobs ($2.5B+ direct supplier investments across Georgia)
Production and Vehicle Models
Hyundai Ioniq 5: Dedicated all-electric compact crossover (production began October 2024).
Hyundai Ioniq 9: Dedicated three-row all-electric SUV (production launched March 2025).
Kia Models (e.g., Kia Sportage Hybrid): Flexible assembly added to produce hybrid powertrain models alongside EVs.
Multi-Brand Capability: Designed to assemble up to 10 different vehicle models across Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis brands on a single production line.
On-Site Battery & Logistics Infrastructure
HL-GA Battery Company Joint Venture: $4.3 billion joint venture battery cell manufacturing facility with LG Energy Solution located directly on the megasite.
SK On Battery Joint Venture: Complementary $5 billion joint battery plant located in Bartow County, GA (35 GWh annual capacity).
Smart Factory Operations: Replaces traditional static conveyor belts with Autonomous Guided Vehicles (AGVs) and AI-driven automated logistics.
Rail & Supply Chain: Direct Class I rail siding connecting to Georgia Central Railway for shipping finished vehicles, supplemented by Hyundai XCIENT hydrogen fuel-cell heavy-duty trucks for local parts transport.
Sustainability Focus: Solar panel parking arrays supplying 5% of facility electricity, paired with carbon-neutral logistics goals.
Project Team
Hyundai Motor Group: Primary owner and developer.
LG Energy Solution: Partner in the HL-GA Battery Company ($4.3B joint venture producing battery cells directly on the HMGMA campus).
SK On: Partner in the $5B off-site battery joint venture facility in Bartow County, GA.
Hyundai Engineering of America, Inc.: Lead General Contractor for site development and plant assembly buildings.
Hanterin US, Inc.: Co-general contractor for plant facility construction.
Thomas and Hutton: Primary site planning, civil engineering, mass grading, and utility permitting firm.
Haeahn Architecture: Architectural design consultancy for the campus layout and buildings.
Precision Concrete Construction: Concrete foundation and structural contractor.
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