UPDATE: Hyundai electric vehicle factory to be built near Savannah
UPDATE: Hyundai electric vehicle factory to be built near Savannah
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Credit: Stephen B. Morton for The Atlanta Journal ConstitutionNEWSBy J. Scott Trubey – The Atlanta Journal-ConstitutionGreg Bluestein – The Atlanta Journal-ConstitutionUpdated 7 hours agoLarge plant to bring thousands of manufacturing jobs to Bryan County in Georgia.The Atlanta Journal-Constitution is providing this content as part of our public service mission. Please support real, local journalism by subscribing today.
This article was updated at 6:05 p.m. with additional details throughout.
ELLABELL, Ga. — South Korean automotive giant Hyundai Motor Group on Friday confirmed plans to build a roughly $5.5 billion electric vehicle assembly and battery plant near Savannah that eventually could employ about 8,100 workers.
It is the second major electric vehicle factory announcement in Georgia since December as state economic development officials try to turn the Peach State into an important manufacturing hub for battery-powered automobiles.
In a ceremony near the Georgia coast, Hyundai officials and Gov. Brian Kemp outlined sprawling future operations to build electric cars and SUVs on a nearly 3,000-acre, state-owned megasite along I-16 in Bryan County. Hyundai officials said they will break ground in 2023 and start production in 2025 with capacity for 300,000 EVs a year.
It was just six months ago that Kemp and executives with California-based EV startup Rivian announced a $5 billion factory — and 7,500 planned jobs — coming to the area of Social Circle about an hour’s drive east of Atlanta.
“I have the privilege, for the second time in the same fiscal year, to welcome the largest economic development project in the state’s history,” Kemp said at Friday’s ceremony with Hyundai executives.
Hyundai’s big announcement came while President Joe Biden was visiting Seoul as part of a trip to South Korea and Japan to boost economic and security ties. Biden has pushed to electrify the federal fleet and encourage more EV production and green jobs in the U.S., and the president is expected to meet with Hyundai leaders and thank them for their investment before departing for Japan.
The South Korean automaker also confirmed its plans ahead of Tuesday’s primary elections in Georgia, where Kemp is trying to fend off Republican challenger David Perdue. Kemp, who is ahead by double digits in the polls, has been touting his stewardship of the state’s economy on the campaign trail, including a record low unemployment rate.Caption
Credit: Stephen B. Morton for The Atlanta Journal Constitution
The Bryan County factory is part of Hyundai’s plan to invest $7.4 billion in the U.S. by 2025 to expand EVs and “smart mobility” services.
“This high-tech EV plant represents the future of our business,” said Jae Hoon Chang, Hyundai Motor’s president and CEO.
Hyundai officials said they chose Georgia for its EV hub because of its business climate, workforce and the company’s existing supplier network. The state boasts global connections via Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport and two seaports in Savannah and Brunswick.
Hyundai committed to $1 billion in investments from its supplier network, which could lead to thousands of additional jobs, Pat Wilson, the state’s economic development commissioner, said in an interview.
Hyundai Motor subsidiary Kia announced its first U.S. plant in West Point in 2006, and the Georgia f
