Report: Hyundai May Choose Georgia for EV Plant
Hyundai Motor Group has been considering where to establish its planned EV manufacturing hub for the United States for roughly a year now and is reportedly zeroing in on the State of Georgia as a final destination. It’s even said to have conducted some preliminary meetings with local leaders about the possibility of breaking ground in an area that could be strategically aligned with its existing facilities – namely Montgomery’s Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama (HMMA) and West Point’s Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia (KMMG).
Reuters broke the story, citing the usual unnamed sources that are “familiar with the matter.” While the automaker has confirmed that it has a loose plan in place for its upcoming EV pant, it’s been unwilling to share any specifics regarding the possibility of future investments.
From Reuters:
The new Georgia EV facility, if it is finalized, would serve both Hyundai and Kia as the brands move to roll out a pair of fully electric SUVs – the Ioniq 7 and EV9 – aimed at the U.S. market, the three people with knowledge of the plans told Reuters.
Georgia’s Economic Department declined to comment. “We do not comment on speculation about economic development projects,” said a state economic development department spokesperson.
The announcement of an investment deal by Hyundai would come at a time when the administration of President Joe Biden has been pushing for more investment in EVs and related suppliers to create jobs and drive a clean-energy agenda. It would also mark a major economic development win for Georgia, which has pushed to establish itself as a regional hub for the emerging EV industry.
The Korean car company has been pouring cash into the region, with the most recent investment being last month’s $300-million push to manufacture the Genesis GV70 EV and a hybrid version of the Santa Fe in Alabama. SK Innovation (Hyundai’s chief battery supplier) has also been expanding in Georgia, tossing more than $2 billion into two planned facilities. But the entire Southeastern region is quickly becoming a haven for battery plants, with CATL, LG Energy Solution, and Samsung SDI having made investments of their own.
Reuters speculated that a formal announcement could arrive shortly before the May 24th Georgia primary election in which Republican Governor Brian Kemp is being challenged by former U.S. Senator David Perdue – suggesting a final decision may hinge on the political climate. It likewise noted that Hyundai had been hoping to announce its U.S. investment in electric vehicle manufacturing later this month to coincide with Biden’s planned visit to South Korea, citing another unnamed person with knowledge of the overarching strategy.
The Biden administration has said it will allocate more than $3 billion in funding that would have gone to support U.S. infrastructure to help finance domestic EV manufacturing. Biden’s ultimate goal is to have half of all vehicles sold within the nation to be electric by 2030.
Meanwhile, local outlets have been musing what the new facility could mean in terms of jobs – with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reporting that the company plans to hire 8,500 people to work at a site planned along I-16 in Bryan County, near Savannah.
[Image: Hyundai]
A staunch consumer advocate tracking industry trends and regulation. Before joining TTAC, Matt spent a decade working for marketing and research firms based in NYC. Clients included several of the world’s largest automakers, global tire brands, and aftermarket part suppliers. Dissatisfied with the corporate world and resentful of having to wear suits everyday, he pivoted to writing about cars. Since then, that man has become an ardent supporter of the right-to-repair movement, been interviewed on the auto industry by national radio broadcasts, driven more rental cars than anyone ever should, participated in amateur rallying events, and received the requisite minimum training as sanctioned by the SCCA. Handy with a wrench, Matt grew up surrounded by Detroit auto workers and managed to get a pizza delivery job before he was legally eligible. He later found himself driving box trucks through Manhattan, guaranteeing future sympathy for actual truckers. He continues to conduct research pertaining to the automotive sector as an independent contractor and has since moved back to his native Michigan, closer to where the cars are born. A contrarian, Matt claims to prefer understeer — stating that front and all-wheel drive vehicles cater best to his driving style.
More by Matt Posky
Comments
Join the conversation
Hyundai/Kia is trying to become the next Honda. More manufacturing jobs in the U.S. is a good thing. Isn't it funny how many foreign brands are made in America, and how many American vehicles are made in Mexico and other countries?
They aimed for Honda but landed on Infiniti/Acura/Cadillac