Hyundai SK Battery Manufacturing America (HSBMA), the joint venture between SK On and Hyundai Motor Group, has launched mass production at its battery plant in Bartow County, Georgia, and is now supplying cells to Hyundai’s electric vehicle facility in Savannah. Established in 2023 with a combined investment of $5 billion, HSBMA began production in June and has started delivering batteries to Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America.
The Georgia site spans approximately 3 million square meters and employs around 3,500 workers. Once operations reach full capacity, the facility is expected to produce up to 35 gigawatt-hours of battery cells annually—enough to power roughly 300,000 electric vehicles per year. “We are in the early stages of battery production, and we will continue increasing our output,” an HSBMA spokesperson said.
To secure the project, the state of Georgia provided $641 million in tax incentives and other financial support. Cells manufactured at HSBMA will be sent to Hyundai Mobis for assembly into battery packs, which will then be integrated into electric vehicles under the Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis brands produced in the United States.
This new facility bolsters Georgia’s growing reputation as a hub for the Korean battery industry. The state already hosts SK Battery America, which produces EV batteries and components. Meanwhile, Hyundai Motor Group and LG Energy Solution are collaborating on a separate battery plant near the Savannah Metaplant. That project has faced delays after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detained several Korean workers at the construction site.
By localizing battery cell production in Georgia, Hyundai Motor Group and SK On aim to strengthen supply chain resilience, reduce logistics costs, and accelerate the rollout of electric vehicles in North America. The partnership underscores both companies’ commitment to expanding their battery production footprint outside of South Korea, aligning with growing demand for domestically sourced batteries in the U.S. market.
Source: The Korea Herald
