Hyundai officially opened its Metaplant America facility on March 26, 2025, capping off a day packed with milestones, speeches, a press conference, and a vision for the future of American manufacturing.
The grand opening event took place at the 2,906-acre Megasite in Bryan County, now home to the Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America (HMGMA). Hundreds of dignitaries, plant Meta-Pros, and guests gathered to commemorate the completion of what is now the largest economic development project in Georgia history.
Hyundai Motor Company President and CEO José Muñoz opened the ceremony by describing the event as a "mechanical Georgia family reunion."
"We’ve spent so much time here that Georgia feels like our second home," Muñoz said. "Today is like a family reunion, and now, we get to show off our new house."
The celebration featured remarks from local, state, national, and international leaders, including Georgia Governor Brian Kemp, U.S. Representative Buddy Carter, and South Korea's Ambassador to the U.S. Hyundong Cho. Also in attendance were Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Euisun Chung, Vice Chair Jaehoon Chang, Kia President Ho Sung Song, and Hyundai executives from across the globe.
Muñoz described the Metaplant not just as an assembly facility, but a "campus of the future," emphasizing the company’s commitment to innovation, sustainability, and smart manufacturing. The facility will produce electric and hybrid vehicles for Hyundai, Genesis, and Kia, with a projected capacity of 300,000 vehicles annually—and plans to scale up to 500,000.
Executive Chair Chung echoed that sentiment, noting that Hyundai’s investment goes beyond buildings and machines.
"We invest first and foremost in relationships, with our partners, our neighbors, and the people of this region," Chung said.
Hyundai’s original $12.6 billion investment includes the Metaplant and joint battery manufacturing ventures with LG Energy Solution and SK On. The company has also committed an additional $21 billion in U.S. investments between 2025 and 2028. These funds will be used to expand production, build an integrated steel mill, and fund innovation in autonomous vehicles, robotics, and advanced air mobility. The steel mill alone will be capable of producing 2.7 million tons of automotive steel annually starting in 2029.
"We’re increasing our capacity from 300,000 to 500,000 units annually," he said. "That’s like building another plant right on top of this one."
Hyundai expects its projects in Georgia to create 12,000 direct jobs and more than 40,000 indirect jobs. According to the Center for Automotive Research, the company’s presence will generate $4.6 billion in individual earnings annually. Suppliers across 12 counties have already announced $2.5 billion in investment and 6,900 jobs, far surpassing original projections.
As of March 24, HMGMA employed 1,232 workers, not including Korean expatriates, according to Bianca Johnson, assistant manager for communications and public relations. Of those employees, 1,077 are from Georgia, and 895 are from what Hyundai considers the Greater Savannah area, a 60-mile radius around the site.
Bulloch County currently has the second-highest number of Hyundai employees among surrounding counties. A total of 185 Bulloch residents work at the plant, representing roughly 15% of the workforce. Chatham County leads with 413 employees (33%), followed by Effingham County with 103 (8%), and Bryan County with 91 (7%).
Following the ceremony, Muñoz held a roundtable press conference with reporters. He addressed topics ranging from workforce readiness and production capacity to global trade policy, EV incentives, and Hyundai’s commitment to flexibility in its U.S. operations.
Asked about ongoing concerns with tariffs and shifting trade policy, Muñoz said Hyundai remains agile in adapting to global conditions. He emphasized that the company's decision to build the Metaplant was made during the first Trump administration, not because of incentives, but because of the strategic opportunity in the U.S. market.
"America has become, by far, the largest market for the group," Muñoz said. "We invested because we saw the opportunity, not because of who was president or what incentives were on the table."
Muñoz also confirmed that the 200,000-unit expansion would not require additional buildings, but would involve significant equipment investments, especially for hybrid production. About one-third of the total volume is expected to be hybrid vehicles.
On workforce development, Muñoz said Hyundai is not facing hiring shortages. He credited partnerships with local colleges and universities, including Georgia Southern University, for creating strong talent pipelines. "Presidents of universities are basically shipping their graduates to us," he said.
He added that the company is taking a step-by-step approach to reaching full capacity, with second-shift production expected to ramp up based on market demand.
"The sooner the better," Muñoz said.
He also highlighted Hyundai’s plan to address EV infrastructure needs. The company is a founding partner in a joint venture to build 30,000 ultra-fast chargers across the U.S., and is also working to make its vehicles compatible with Tesla’s charging network.
Charlene Toole, a native of Ellabell and one of the plant's original hires, shared her experience during the ceremony.
"This job has become a place to grow and find purpose," she said. "We take great pride in our employee numbers because we were here at the beginning."
Ambassador Hyundong Cho reflected on the broader economic partnership between South Korea and the United States.
"This facility is the latest symbol of the growing bond between Korea and Georgia," Cho said. "With over $100 billion in greenfield investments in the U.S. in the last five years, Korean companies are playing a leading role in American industry."
Congressman Buddy Carter praised the development as a once-in-a-generation opportunity.
"Just when you think it can’t get any better, it does," Carter said. "Hyundai’s decision to come here is the ultimate vote of confidence in our workforce and our future." " Here we grow".
Governor Brian Kemp closed out the ceremony, acknowledging the rapid pace of development. Ground broke on the plant in late 2022, and the first vehicle—a Hyundai IONIQ 5—rolled off the line in October 2024.
"This was the vision, mega sites like this one," Kemp said. "And today, that promise has been fulfilled."
Kemp credited partnerships across local governments, development authorities, utility providers, and educational institutions and their leadership including President Kyle Marrero and Georgia Southern University along with Savannah College of Art and Design for making the project possible.
"We build partnerships, we build opportunity, and now, with Hyundai, we’re building the future," Kemp said.
Beyond manufacturing, the Metaplant will include a 41-acre ecological park with trails, fields, and gathering spaces for employees, as well as a solar-powered parking lot generating 5.2 megawatts of energy. Inside, the plant features advanced robotics and AI-powered systems to assist workers and increase efficiency.
Oscar Kwon, CEO of HMGMA, noted that building a welcoming and safe workplace is just as important as the technology inside the plant.
"It is essential for our Meta Pros to be happy, comfortable and safe in their work environment for long-lasting careers at HMGMA," Kwon said.
From job creation and technology to infrastructure and design, the grand opening marked a significant step forward—not just for Hyundai, but for Southeast Georgia’s future—and for counties like Bulloch that are already playing a key role in the workforce powering that future.