The Hyundai Group finally broke ground on the site where, within the next few years, pure electric vehicles from the Korean giant’s three brands (Hyundai, Genesis and Kia) will be assembled, along with batteries, a strategy that will allow the automaker to optimize its electric footprint on North American soil.
The ceremony was attended by a number of dignitaries including Hyundai Executive Chairman Euisun Chung, Hyundai Motor North America President and CEO José Muñoz, Republic of Korea Ambassador Tae-yong Cho, and Georgia Governor Brian P. Kemp, among others.
“Hyundai and the people of Georgia share many qualities: respect for our histories, ingenuity, creativity, and determination to make the world a better place for the next generation…Today, our EVs are recognized as best-in-class, and with this partnership, we are committed to being the global leader in electrification, safety, quality, and sustainability. With the meta factory, we will continue to evolve beyond an automaker to become the world’s leading mobility solutions provider,” said Euisun Chung, executive chairman of Hyundai Group.
Recall that the $5.54 billion investment by the company and its affiliated suppliers was announced five months ago and includes plans to produce a diverse range of electric vehicles as well as a new battery production facility. The Bryan County-based complex will create more than 8,100 jobs over the next few years as the company aims to establish a stable supply chain for batteries and other EV components in the U.S. market.
Production of the vehicles and batteries will begin in early 2025. The automaker also took the opportunity to talk about the artificial intelligence that will be prevalent throughout this meta-factory. Indeed, the manufacturing system will be connected, automated, and flexible. All production processes – order collection, procurement, logistics, and production – will be optimized through artificial intelligence and data. Finally, the factory will use renewable energy sources to power its facilities.
This major investment by the Korean group should ensure that the three brands maintain its position as one of the three largest suppliers of EVs in the United States. The U.S. government is going to require that half of an automaker’s EV sales must be at least 50 percent by 2030.
