Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America (HMGMA) is Hyundai Motor Group’s newest auto manufacturing facility and is located in southeast Georgia, about 30 miles west of downtown Savannah.
Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America’s story began in May 2022 when Hyundai Motor Group entered into an agreement with the State of Georgia to build its first dedicated fully electrified vehicle and battery manufacturing facilities in the United States.
HMG chose the 2,900-acre megasite in Bryan County for several reasons including the area’s quality of life, strong regional connectivity, global logistical connections and infrastructure, and existing workforce training programs. In October 2022, HMG broke ground on the Metaplant, its first, state-of-the-art U.S. smart factory, and began production two years later in October 2024.
Once fully operational, more than 8,500 people will work on the megasite and an additional 6,900 jobs will be created at offsite suppliers.
To date, our economic development agreement is the largest in state history and totals more than $7.5 billion.
There will be more than 8,500 workers on the megasite
When the first Hyundai IONIQ 5 rolled off the production line at Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America (HMGMA) in October 2024, it marked the beginning of a new chapter in U.S. automotive manufacturing. Just months later, in March 2025, production expanded with the launch of the Hyundai IONIQ 9, demonstrating the facility’s ability to quickly scale operations while producing award-winning electric vehicles.
In June 2026, HMGMA reached another major milestone. The launch of the Kia Sportage Hybrid not only introduced the plant’s first Kia model, but also its first hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) and a third vehicle in its growing production lineup. The addition of the Sportage Hybrid alongside the Hyundai IONIQ 5 and IONIQ 9 highlights one of the Metaplant’s most distinctive capabilities: the flexibility to build multiple brands and powertrain technologies on a single production line.
That flexibility was built into HMGMA from the start. Designed to accommodate a wide range of vehicle models and propulsion systems with minimal modifications, the facility has the capacity to produce up to 10 different vehicles. As production continues to expand, the Metaplant will ultimately manufacture vehicles for all three Hyundai Motor Group brands—Hyundai, Kia, and the luxury brand Genesis.
The Metaplant is the centerpiece of a larger automotive ecosystem that stretches across the megasite. In addition to HMGMA, the campus includes HLBMA, a joint venture battery manufacturing plant, and five key affiliates: Hyundai Mobis, Hyundai Glovis, Hyundai Transys, Hyundai Steel, and Hyundai Material. Another 22 suppliers operate nearby, creating an integrated network that supports vehicle production from battery manufacturing to final assembly.
Innovation is visible throughout the site. A solar panel-covered parking area at the front of the campus, easily seen from Interstate 16, generates approximately five percent of HMGMA’s electricity needs. Inside the plant, robots and Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs) work alongside employees, known as Meta Pros. Robots handle much of the heavy lifting, while AGVs deliver parts throughout the facility, helping create a safer and more efficient manufacturing environment.
Technology also drives operations behind the scenes. From order collection and procurement to logistics and production, every stage of the manufacturing process is optimized using artificial intelligence and data-driven systems. This advanced approach helps ensure efficiency, quality, and flexibility as production volumes continue to grow.
Before leaving the facility, every vehicle undergoes rigorous testing on HMGMA’s nearly two-mile test track, where performance and quality are verified before shipment.
Sustainability is another cornerstone of the Metaplant’s operations. HMGMA utilizes XCIENT heavy-duty hydrogen fuel-cell electric trucks to transport vehicle parts from suppliers across the region each day. This industry-leading initiative reduces emissions while supporting cleaner logistics operations throughout the supply chain.
Once complete, most vehicles begin their journey to customers by rail, connecting the Metaplant to markets across the United States and underscoring HMGMA’s role as a major hub for the future of automotive manufacturing.