Hyundai and SK On begin EV battery production at $5 billion Georgia plant
The facility, operated by Hyundai SK Battery Manufacturing America, or HSBMA, is located in Bartow County, northwest of Atlanta. According to a company spokesperson quoted by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, production began in June and batteries are already being supplied to Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America.
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Hyundai Motor Group and SK On have started initial production at their joint electric vehicle battery plant in the US state of Georgia, marking a further step in the localisation of Hyundai’s North American EV supply chain.
The facility, operated by Hyundai SK Battery Manufacturing America, or HSBMA, is located in Bartow County, northwest of Atlanta. According to a company spokesperson quoted by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, production began in June and batteries are already being supplied to Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America, the group’s vehicle manufacturing site near Savannah.
Hyundai and SK On in Georgia
Hyundai and SK On established the joint venture in 2023, committing a combined investment of approximately $5 billion. Once fully operational, the plant is expected to reach an annual production capacity of 35 GWh, sufficient to supply batteries for around 300,000 electric vehicles.
The factory currently employs approximately 3,500 people, according to figures reported by South Korean broadcaster SBS. Production volumes remain at an early stage and are expected to increase progressively as operations ramp up.
Battery cells produced at HSBMA are due to be assembled into packs by Hyundai Mobis before being installed in Hyundai, Kia and Genesis electric vehicles manufactured in the United States. The Bartow County operation is positioned close to several Hyundai Motor Group manufacturing sites, including the company’s plants in Georgia and Alabama.
“Wider manufacturing expansion”
The project is part of a wider manufacturing expansion by South Korean automotive and battery companies in the southeastern United States. Georgia has offered the joint venture around $641 million in tax incentives and other public support, reflecting the competition among US states to attract investment across the EV value chain.
For Hyundai and SK On, the ramp-up represents more than the opening of another battery factory. It is a key element in establishing an integrated US production ecosystem at a time when carmakers are reassessing EV demand, industrial capacity and exposure to international supply chains.
