It remains unclear how quickly Georgians are going to adopt electric vehicles but the state will certainly be making it possible for much of the country to get them. Hyundai and SK On announced they are partnering on a site in Bartow County for a new electric vehicle battery manufacturing facility that will supply Hyundai’s plants in the U.S. It is the second major facility announcement from SK On – the battery subsidiary of SK Innovation, after opening a facility in Commerce and employing some 2,000 people. SK On’s parent company, the SK Group, is South Korea’s third biggest company behind Samsung and Hyundai.
“Hyundai Motor Group and SK On are valued partners and key players in our state’s ever-growing automotive industry,” said Gov. Brian Kemp. “Since day one, my administration has been focused on bringing jobs and opportunity to communities across the state that may have been overlooked in the past. SK and HMG share this goal, and we’re proud they are choosing to invest even further in this No. 1 state for business.”
Operations are expected to begin in 2025 at a manufacturing and industrial site off Highway 411, adjacent to Interstate 75, about halfway between Atlanta and Chattanooga. Hyundai’s largest facility in the U.S. is in Montgomery, Alabama, just about 3 hours away.
“Bartow County is very pleased with the decision of Hyundai Motor Group and SK On,” said Bartow County Sole Commissioner Steve Taylor. “The project will have regional benefit for job seekers in the area and establishes Bartow in Georgia’s EV ecosystem in a significant way. With Bartow’s strong history and talent-base built upon advanced manufacturing, the automotive industry, and innovation, the battery partnership should thrive in this environment. We look forward to welcoming HMG and SK in meaningful ways in the community and enjoying a long-term partnership together.”
Hyundai also recently broke ground on an EV manufacturing facility in Bryan County in October. The South Korean car giant is investing more than $5 billion in that facility. Kia is a part of the Hyundai group as well and their facility in West Point, Georgia was one of the early investments that kicked off the Georgia vehicle manufacturing boom, years after General Motors had closed its facilities here. As reported earlier this week by InsiderAdvantage, the Port of Brunswick is one of the busiest in the nation for vehicle traffic and the announcement from Hyundai will likely grow the Georgia port’s importance as well.
“HMG and SK have been pioneering partners for Georgia for decades as one of the major drivers for Georgia’s automotive renaissance and as the first Korean manufacturer to locate in the state, respectively,” said GDEcD Commissioner Pat Wilson. “By supporting cooperation and partnerships across our growing EV ecosystem, we’re creating a fully integrated supply chain for automotive OEMs while also connecting battery manufacturers with recyclers to close the loop on battery manufacturing. We’re excited for the jobs of the future this will create for Bartow County and northwest Georgia, and we’re grateful for the support of our community and utility partners!”
