Dive Brief:
- Auto parts manufacturer Joon Georgia plans to build a production facility in southeast Georgia to supply components to Hyundai Motor Group’s first U.S. electric vehicle plant, according to a news release from the governor's office Monday.
- Joon Georgia will invest $317 million to make parts in Bullock County. It’s the first confirmed supplier for Hyundai's incoming EV campus in Savannah, which broke ground in October, Gov. Brian Kemp said in the release.
- The plant will begin hiring for approximately 630 jobs mid-next year, with production slated to begin in mid-2024.
Dive Insight:
Kemp said Joon Georgia is the “first of many companies” expected to open shop in Georgia to support Hyundai’s $5.5 billion campus, which is set to start production of up to 300,000 EVs per year in 2025.
Joon Georgia is a subsidiary of Alabama-headquartered Ajin USA, which currently supplies other Hyundai facilities with auto body parts and electronics.
The new facility is Ajin’s first in Georgia, Ajin USA CEO Jung Ho Sea said in a statement. Its location in Statesboro is in close proximity to the Port of Savannah, granting it access to “global markets quickly and efficiently,” according to the release.
More parts manufacturers are growing their presence in Georgia to match their OEM customers. Combined, Hyundai and Rivian have invested more than $10.5 billion in the state over the past year, marking the two biggest economic development projects in Georgia.
Polymer manufacturer Solvay Specialty Polymers announced plans last week to construct an $850 million plant to manufacture key lithium-ion battery parts in Augusta, while copper foil manufacturer Denkai America is set to locate its North America headquarters and new facility in the area.
Georgia officials predict non-affiliated suppliers connected to Hyundai’s project will invest an estimated $1 billion in other locations around the state.
