Hyundai has commenced production of its first-ever three-row electric vehicle at the newly opened Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America (HMGMA) in Ellabell, Georgia. The Bryan County facility, which specializes in vehicle assembly and battery production, is set to manufacture up to 500,000 electric and hybrid vehicles annually for Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis brands. One of the vehicles being produced at this state-of-the-art plant is the IONIQ 9, Hyundai’s first three-row SUV. A photograph shared by Hyundai showcases employees working on a green-framed IONIQ 9.
Euisun Chung, the executive chair of Hyundai Motor Group, emphasized that the Metaplant America symbolizes the Group’s advanced manufacturing capabilities and commitment to innovation, as well as its investment in partnerships and communities within Georgia. Hyundai, the world’s third-largest automaker when including Kia Motors, plans to roll out the IONIQ 9s this spring.
Kia vehicles will account for 40% of the Georgia facility’s total production, according to Kia CEO Song Ho-sung. Initially, the plant was planned to produce 300,000 electric vehicles, but this number was increased with the addition of hybrid cars to the production lines, reflecting a shift in market demand and potential changes in EV subsidies under the Trump administration.
This adjustment is part of the $21 billion investment announced by President Trump and Euisun Chung at the White House earlier this week. Hyundai anticipates creating 14,000 new full-time jobs in the U.S. by 2028 through this commitment. Trump recently announced a 25% import tariff on cars and auto parts, a move that could impact companies, particularly Asian automakers, which are among the largest exporters to the U.S.
The Georgia facility is described as an “intelligent manufacturing plant,” where all production processes are optimized using AI and data, creating a human-centered work environment with robots assisting human workers.
— new from Fox Business