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Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America (HMGMA; sometimes HMG Metaplant America or the Hyundai Metaplant) is an electric vehicle (EV) production site operated by Hyundai located in Ellabell, Bryan County, Georgia, United States. The $7.6 billion site is located along Interstate 16 about 25 miles (40 km) from downtown Savannah, with over 16 million square feet (1.5 million m) of factory floor space. The campus will also produce batteries in a joint venture with LG Energy Solution at an additional, under-construction factory.

History and construction

The land occupied by HMGMA was previously designated by Bryan County as the Bryan County Mega Site. Volvo had considered the area for a new manufacturing plant in 2015, but ultimately built a factory in South Carolina instead. Six years later, with hopes of successfully attracting a large manufacturer or an automaker, the area was purchased in 2021 for $61 million by the state of Georgia, Bryan and Chatham counties, and the Savannah Harbor-Interstate 16 Corridor Joint Development Authority; the deal combined three separately-owned parcels of land. The site lies directly off of Interstate 16, with existing Class I rail links and close access to Interstate 95 and the Port of Savannah.

Discussions between Hyundai and government officials began in January 2022. Hyundai announced the $7.6 billion factory in April 2022, and construction on the 2,284-acre (924 ha) site began that October. It is the largest economic project in Georgia history. A groundbreaking ceremony held on October 25 was attended by Hyundai CEO and chairman Chung Eui-sun, Georgia governor Brian Kemp, U.S. senators Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock, U.S. representative Buddy Carter, and deputy Secretary of Commerce Don Graves. Hyundai was incentivized by provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act.

The Georgia Department of Transportation has planned several upgrades to surrounding infrastructure, including widening US 280, constructing frontage roads along I-16, and expanding the interchange at Old Cuyler Road.

By September 2024, more than 800 workers had been hired to work at HMGMA. Full production at HMGMA began in October 2024; the first model produced was the 2025 Ioniq 5.

Hyundai also is constructing a nearby $4.3 billion battery factory in tandem with LG Energy Solution.

Around the area, 17 suppliers have announced new factories to support the Hyundai plant, which combined will invest an additional estimated total of $2.7 billion and employ another 7,000 workers; manufacturers include Hanon Systems, PHA, Seoyon E-HWA, and Woory Industrial.

Operation

Hyundai calls the plant a "Metaplant" and its employees "Meta Pros". According to the company, "the prefix 'meta' can mean transformative or transcending. Using those definitions, the Metaplant will transform the definition of what an automotive plant is".

According to Hyundai, the factory uses autonomous vehicles instead of conveyor belts to move vehicle bodies.

Hyundai expects around 70% of completed vehicles to be shipped by rail via the Georgia Central Railway, and constructed an additional rail siding to handle the volume of autorack cars.

The water tower located at the factory site along I-16 features artwork by students from Savannah College of Art and Design.

Hyundai plans to reach full production of over 300,000 vehicles per year at HMGMA.

Products

Vehicles

• 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5
• 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 9

Controversies

Safety

A 2024 investigation by Savannah television station WTOC 11 found that during construction of the plant, from April 2023 to July 2024, 53 injuries were reported with 14 of them described as "traumatic"; at least one worker died. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) opened more than a dozen investigations, and various subcontractors have been sued or fined for safety violations.

Water

In October 2024, the Georgia Environmental Protection Division approved withdrawals of 6.625 million gallons of water per day from the Floridan aquifer, allowing for the drilling of four new wells in Bulloch County. This is a temporary solution as Bryan County is legally required to implement an alternative water source for HMGMA within 25 years.

See also

• List of Hyundai Motor Company manufacturing facilities

References and notes

1. The JDA is composed of development authorities from Bryan, Bulloch, Chatham and Effingham counties.

1. ^ Van Brimmer, Adam (2024-09-03). "Hyundai shows off new EV model built at soon-to-open Georgia factory". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved 20 December 2024.
2. ^ Williams, Latrice (2024-10-22). "Other car manufacturers looked at the megasite. How did Hyundai seal the deal?". Savannah Morning News. Retrieved 23 December 2024.
3. "Home". Savannah Harbor-Interstate 16 Corridor Joint Development Authority. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
4. ^ Guan, Nancy (2021-08-09). "$61 million purchase of Bryan County megasite finalized, marking largest project in GA history". Savannah Morning News. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
5. ^ Deem, John (2024-08-28). "Feds could restrict withdrawals from wells for Hyundai site near Savannah, experts say". Savannah Morning News. Retrieved 22 December 2024.
6. ^ Van Brimmer, Adam (2024-10-04). "Hyundai's Georgia $7.6 billion EV factory is up and running". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
7. ^ Bynum, Russ (2024-10-07). "Hyundai has begun producing electric SUVs at its $7.6 billion plant in Georgia". Associated Press. Retrieved 22 December 2024.
8. "Hyundai Motor Group Breaks Ground on Metaplant America Dedicated EV and Battery Plant". Hyundai. 2022-10-25. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
9. ^ Ferris, David (2024-10-09). "Georgia EV plant backed by the climate law sparks water war". Politico. Retrieved 22 December 2024.
10. ^ Penn, Ivan (2023-05-26). "Hyundai and LG Plan $4.3 Billion Battery Plant in Georgia". The New York Times. Retrieved 23 December 2024.
11. "Making Way for Bryan County's Hyundai Megasite". C.W. Matthews. 2023. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
12. "US 280, I-16 Frontage, and Old Cuyler Road Interchange Improvements". Georgia Department of Transportation. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
13. ^ Williams, Latrice (2024-10-24). "Battery plant, infrastructure are in the works to support metaplant". Savannah Morning News. Retrieved 23 December 2024.
14. ^ Williams, Latrice (2024-09-08). "Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America gives update on hires and construction, EV sales up". Savannah Morning News. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
15. Shepardson, David (2023-08-31). "Hyundai, LG to spend $2 billion more on Georgia battery plant". Reuters. Retrieved 23 December 2024.
16. Amy, Jeff (2023-05-26). "Hyundai and LG announce $4.3 billion plant in Georgia to build batteries for electric vehicles". Associated Press. Retrieved 23 December 2024.
17. Douglas, Garrison (2023-03-06). "Hyundai Supplier PHA to Create Over 400 Jobs in Chatham County". Georgia Department of Economic Development. Retrieved 28 December 2024.
18. ^ "Hyundai Metaplant America - Careers". Retrieved 17 December 2024.
19. Deem, John (2024-09-09). "Trains to transport 200,000 vehicles a year from Hyundai plant near Savannah, company says". Savannah Morning News. Retrieved 22 December 2024.
20. Van Brimmer, Adam (2024-12-12). "Thirsty Savannah region faces looming shortage of fresh water". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved 16 December 2024.
21. Williams, Latrice (2024-11-21). "Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America celebrates unveiling of 2026 IONIQ 9". Savannah Morning News. Retrieved 23 December 2024.
22. ^ Schrader, Shea (2024-12-12). "Safety issues, injuries at Hyundai megasite concern workers, advocates". WTOC-TV. Retrieved 20 December 2024.
23. Van Brimmer, Adam (2024-10-08). "Georgia regulators green light drilling of water wells for Hyundai EV plant". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved 20 December 2024.

External links

• Motor vehicle assembly plants in Georgia (U.S. state)
• Hyundai Motor Company
• American subsidiaries of foreign companies