-Building a production system of 1 million units in the U.S. ... Mass production of Ioniq 5 and Ioniq 9, Kia models to be introduced next year.

Hyundai Motor Group is establishing a cutting-edge manufacturing innovation hub in the U.S., one of the world's largest automotive markets and a fierce battleground for global automotive corporations, solidifying its position as a top-tier automotive company in the U.S.

On the 26th (local time), Hyundai Motor Group held the groundbreaking ceremony for the 'Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America (HMGMA)' located in Ellabell, Georgia, USA. HMGMA serves as a strategic production base driving Hyundai Motor Group's global growth and is a key hub for realizing the future of mobility. It is also expected to strengthen economic cooperation between Korea and the U.S. and contribute to the sustainable growth of both countries.

The groundbreaking ceremony was attended by over 500 people, including Georgia Governor Brian P. Kemp, U.S. Representative Buddy Carter, Georgia Tech President Ángel Cabrera, South Korean Ambassador to the U.S. Cho Hyun-dong, Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Chung Eui-sun, Vice Chairman Jang Jae-hoon, Hyundai Motor CEO José Muñoz, Kia CEO Song Ho-sung, and employees of HMGMA.

In his welcoming address, Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Chung Eui-sun emphasized, 'HMGMA represents a value greater than innovative manufacturing capabilities,' noting that 'what we focus on is the future of mobility, and it is here that we will open that future together.'

Georgia Governor Brian P. Kemp stated in his speech, 'HMGMA is the result of long preparation, and I was deeply impressed by Hyundai Motor Group's swift decisions and execution,' adding that 'Georgia will support Hyundai Motor Group's innovation based on its excellent universities, workforce training programs, logistics, and infrastructure that made this project possible.' Governor Kemp also signed an Ioniq 5 that will be produced at HMGMA.

At the entrance of the event venue, Hyundai's Alabama plant (HMMA), Kia's Georgia plant (KaGA), and vehicles including the electrified GV70 model, EV9, and Ioniq 5 produced at HMGMA were displayed, highlighting the organic cooperation of Hyundai Motor Group's U.S. production network and local subsidiaries, with Boston Dynamics' four-legged robot SPOT assisting visitors.

Before the groundbreaking ceremony, major attendees, including Georgia Governor Brian Kemp, toured the production line from the press to the assembly chair along with Chairman Chung Eui-sun and expressed deep interest in the human-centered manufacturing process harmonized with robots.

HMGMA, equipped with the world's best technology, is a software-defined factory (SDF) that realizes manufacturing innovation through automation manufacturing technology, intelligence, and flexibility. It embodies Hyundai Motor Group's commitment to implementing future mobility through flexible and free collaboration between AI, robotics, and humans based on data in a human-centered manufacturing environment.

In particular, the term Metaplant is a combination of 'Meta,' meaning 'transcendence,' and 'Plant,' which signifies a production base, implying that it aims to transcend current limits and become a center for new creativity. Accordingly, Hyundai Motor Group has also named HMGMA workers 'Meta Pros.'

Hyundai Motor Group decided to build a fourth production base in Georgia with a smart factory based on advanced technology, following the Hyundai Alabama plant (HMMA) and Kia Georgia plant (KaGA), and broke ground in October 2022, targeting a production capacity of 300,000 units.

HMGMA began production of the Ioniq 5 in October 2024 and started mass production of the Hyundai electrified flagship SUV model Ioniq 9 in March 2025. Next year, Kia models are scheduled to be added to production, and plans to expand the lineup further with Genesis vehicles are also in place. Moreover, with the introduction of a mixed production system, Hyundai Motor Group aims to meet the diverse demand for eco-friendly vehicles among U.S. market consumers by adding hybrid models next year in addition to electric vehicles.

With the completion of HMGMA, Hyundai Motor Group has built a production system of 1 million units in the U.S. It is an achievement realized 20 years after launching local production with the operation of a Hyundai plant in Alabama in 2005. Additionally, there are plans to increase capacity by 200,000 units in the future, expanding it to 1.2 million units.

Hyundai Motor Group, which sold 400,000 units in 2000, made significant progress by establishing a plant in the U.S. The launch of the Hyundai Alabama plant triggered rapid growth, with sales reaching 750,000 units in 2006 and surging to 1.13 million units in 2011, the year after the opening of the Kia Georgia plant. Last year, it recorded sales of 1.71 million units, surpassing the domestic sales of 1.25 million units.

The strategy of quickly reflecting local customer needs in production through the launch of new cars with excellent product competitiveness has been highly effective. Hyundai Motor Group aims to maximize the positive effects of these local plants, supplying high-quality, customer-oriented new cars—including electric and hybrid vehicles—from HMGMA to accelerate growth in the U.S. market.

HMGMA has formally introduced advanced manufacturing technologies developed and validated at the Hyundai Motor Group Innovation Center Singapore (HMGICS). Initially, HMGMA has been implemented as a software-defined factory (SDF), digitalizing data from the entire production process based on the latest automation, AI, and IT technologies for operational use.

As a result, quality is managed using data collected from automatic inspection facilities, and AI analyzes production big data to detect anomalies in advance, leading to the production of high-quality vehicles. Noteworthy is the configuration that provides a human-friendly space, with advanced robots responsible for high-weight, high-risk processes or complex inspections.

A representative example of advanced robotics is the complete automation of the heavy vehicle door installation process, where a robotic assembly vision system captures and analyzes approximately 50,000 images per vehicle to provide quick and accurate feedback on paint quality, which is difficult to verify visually.

Boston Dynamics' four-legged robot SPOT, a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Group, is responsible for precisely examining the complex specifications of the vehicle body and collaborates harmoniously with humans. In the future, the humanoid robot 'All New Atlas' is expected to be piloted.

Furthermore, HMGMA is designed to optimize the work environment for employees, from offices to production areas, utilizing an open structure and abundant natural light. An ecological park covering an area of 160,000 square meters (approximately 50,000 pyeong), consisting of walking paths, sports fields, and picnic spaces, is also under construction.

The total site area of HMGMA is 11.76 million m2 (approximately 3.55 million pyeong), about four times the size of Yeouido. The site not only houses the complete vehicle production plant that connects press, body, painting, and assembly lines but also includes key parts subsidiaries and a battery cell joint plant, forming an 'advanced future car cluster' connected to local domestic partners supplying parts to HMGMA. Hyundai Mobis, Hyundai GLOVIS, Hyundai Steel, and Hyundai Transys are currently operating factories within the HMGMA site.

A joint battery cell factory of Hyundai Motor Group and LG Energy Solution with a scale of 30 GWh is also under construction within the site, aimed for completion next year. This scale can supply batteries for approximately 360,000 units of Ioniq 5 (*based on 84.0 kWh battery).

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