Hyundai Georgia plant production increase could lift capacity to 800,000

Hyundai Georgia plant production increase plans could raise the site’s planned annual capacity from 500,000 vehicles to between 700,000 and 800,000 by 2028, chief executive José Muñoz told CNBC. The prospective increase amounts to an additional 200,000 to 300,000 vehicles of annual capacity, or about 40% to 60% above the existing plan.

The South Korean carmaker has not presented the higher range as a completed expansion. Muñoz described it to CNBC as Hyundai’s expectation for Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America, its vehicle assembly operation in Georgia, by 2028.

Will Hyundai increase production at its Georgia plant?

Hyundai is considering a higher production level at the Georgia Metaplant, according to Muñoz’s comments to CNBC. The company’s previously planned capacity was 500,000 vehicles a year; the CEO said it now expects capacity of 700,000 to 800,000 vehicles by 2028.

The proposal forms part of Hyundai’s stated $26 billion programme to invest in the United States through 2028, CNBC reported. Hyundai aims to make more than 80% of the vehicles it sells in the US locally by 2030, compared with roughly 40% at the time of CNBC’s 2025 report.

Muñoz told CNBC that US tariffs, including a 15% tariff on imports from South Korea cited by the network, had accelerated Hyundai’s localisation plans. He said the company had begun pursuing greater US production before the tariffs were announced.

What does Hyundai build at the Georgia Metaplant?

Hyundai announced the $7.6 billion Georgia facility in 2022. CNBC reported that the site is designated to build hybrid and fully electric vehicles for Hyundai, Genesis and Kia. It currently produces the electric Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Ioniq 9, as well as the Kia Sportage hybrid.

The workforce figures available relate to the prior 500,000-unit plan. That plan included more than 8,500 employees at the Georgia megasite and another 6,900 people at offsite suppliers, CNBC reported.

Hyundai is also assessing further US production capacity beyond the Georgia site for body-on-frame vehicles, including trucks and SUVs, Muñoz told CNBC. He did not provide details of those potential investments.

The planned increase would broaden Hyundai’s US manufacturing footprint as the company seeks to assemble a larger share of the vehicles it sells in its largest market outside South Korea. The current products at the Metaplant, the earlier 500,000-unit plan and the CEO’s 700,000-to-800,000 expectation represent different stages of that strategy.

This story draws on original reporting from CNBC.