Hyundai's new Ioniq 9 SUV, produced at the recently opened $7.6 billion Metaplant in Georgia, marks a pivotal moment for the South Korean automaker and its electric vehicle (EV) strategy. With one in four sales in the U.S. being EVs or hybrids, Hyundai is well-positioned despite potential shifts in U.S. political support for EV initiatives. The factory features groundbreaking facilities, including a $4 billion battery plant, and reflects a broader commitment of $21 billion in investments in the U.S. through 2028, largely under the Biden administration's supportive policies.
Driving a 2026 Ioniq 9 SUV around the Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant in Georgia can feel like a victory lap for the South Korean automaker.
As I watch these electric SUVs roll off a surgically clean assembly line, Hyundai's opportunistic timing looms as large as the hulking robots that help build its cars.
Seen from the air en route to Savannah, the Metaplant resembles a printed circuit board on a green background, blown up to epic scale.
It's all part of a $21 billion investment in America between now and 2028, the vast majority pledged during the EV-friendly Biden administration.
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