Hyundai officially opened its massive Metaplant electric vehicle factory in Ellabell, Georgia, on March 26, just two days after announcing a $21 billion investment in U.S. manufacturing.
The plant, which began producing cars in October 2024, already builds the Ioniq 5 and recently added the all-new Ioniq 9 SUV. Kia models and some Genesis vehicles will join the production line in 2026.
The Metaplant is the largest economic development project in Georgia’s history. Hyundai says it has already invested $20.5 billion in the U.S. over the years, helping create or support more than 570,000 jobs nationwide.
“Standing here today, I can say I have never been more confident about building the future of mobility with America, in America,” said Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chairman Euisun Chung.
The company plans to increase production at the site from 300,000 to 500,000 vehicles a year. “This plant couldn’t come at a better time than now,” said Hyundai Motor CEO Jose Muñoz. “Because definitely all the cars that we would produce here are going to be exempted from any tariffs.”
The company’s $12.6 billion Georgia investment includes joint battery plants and is expected to create 8,500 jobs at the Metaplant by 2031. Hyundai’s new $21 billion U.S. commitment through 2028 is expected to add 14,000 more direct jobs and more than 100,000 jobs in total across related industries.
That exemption is key. Just one day before the plant’s opening, President Donald Trump announced a 25% tariff on imported vehicles, which will take effect in April. But U.S.-made cars will avoid the fee.
The 3,000-acre Metaplant is packed with robots, AI systems, and real-time data tracking. It’s also one of Hyundai’s most advanced factories, with robots welding, painting, and even parking finished vehicles.
Hyundai says the Georgia factory, along with nearby battery partners and a new steel mill in Louisiana, represents a $12.6 billion investment. The full $21 billion U.S. investment is expected to create 14,000 direct jobs and over 100,000 total new jobs across industries.
The 3,000-acre site includes a solar-powered parking lot that provides 5.2 megawatts of electricity—roughly 5% of the plant’s energy. There’s also an ecological park with walking trails and sports fields, and factory interiors were designed with natural light, open layouts, and break zones to improve employee comfort.
When it’s fully ramped up, Hyundai says the Metaplant will produce a car about once every minute.
