Hyundai and SK On have started commercial EV battery production at their joint Georgia plant, a 35 GWh facility that will supply Hyundai, Kia and Genesis electric vehicles, according to battery industry sources and The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Hyundai-SK Battery Manufacturing America (HSBMA) has officially started commercial production at its new electric vehicle battery cell manufacturing facility in Bartow County, Georgia, marking a major step in Hyundai Motor Group’s efforts to expand localized EV production in the United States.
A $5 billion joint venture takes shape
The plant was established through a total investment of approximately $5 billion, with Hyundai Motor Group and SK On each holding a 50% stake in the venture. The facility, operated by Hyundai-SK Battery Manufacturing America, or HSBMA, is located in Bartow County, northwest of Atlanta.
A memorandum of understanding was signed in November 2022 to secure EV battery supply for North America. The facility was first announced in late 2022 as part of Hyundai’s $12.6 billion Metaplant America project, described as Georgia’s largest economic project in state history. Hyundai and SK On finalized terms and officially announced plans for the 50/50 joint-venture battery plant in April 2023.
A spokesperson confirmed to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that the joint venture called Hyundai-SK Battery Manufacturing America “is in the early stages of production and plans to gradually scale up operations.”
Cells shipped directly to Metaplant near Savannah
Initial battery cells produced at the factory are being supplied to Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America near Savannah, where they are being used in electric vehicle production. When fully operational, it will have an annual production capacity of 35 gigawatt-hours, enough to supply batteries for about 300,000 electric vehicles.
The facility, located in Bartow County, was initially expected to begin production in the second half of 2025 to supply batteries for Hyundai Motor Group electric vehicles, including Kia and Genesis. The battery cell plant began producing cells in June. Commercial production arrived several months later than that original target.
The timing comes as Hyundai’s EV lineup gains momentum in the United States. The Tesla Model 3 ranked second with 66,616 units sold through the first half of 2026. Outside of Tesla, the Hyundai IONIQ 5 was America’s best-selling EV in the first half of 2026, with 20,730 units sold, placing it third overall.
That demand makes a reliable domestic battery supply increasingly critical, since EV buyers have grown sensitive to rising ownership costs beyond the sticker price.
Georgia’s EV ecosystem expands
The Bartow County plant is a significant piece of Georgia’s broader EV ecosystem, alongside Hyundai’s auto factory near Savannah and SK’s other battery plant in Commerce, about an hour northeast of Atlanta.
The facility represents one of the largest single investments in Hyundai’s U.S. electrification strategy and supports the company’s goal of building a stronger domestic EV manufacturing ecosystem.
The launch of commercial production also reinforces SK On’s standing as one of the leading global EV battery manufacturers.
The development follows a string of recent safety actions in the broader Hyundai group. Earlier this year, Hyundai and Kia recalled EVs over a separate SK On battery fire risk, underscoring the scrutiny that domestic battery sourcing now attracts. Having production on U.S. soil could give the group greater quality oversight throughout the cell manufacturing process.
What comes next for HSBMA
The Bartow County plant is among Georgia’s largest economic development projects, aiming to further onshore battery production for Hyundai and Kia and build out a full ecosystem of EV manufacturing. The joint venture began trials last month and is now in an early production stage with plans to gradually scale up, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported, citing a Hyundai spokesperson.
At full capacity, Hyundai says it will be able to produce 35 gigawatt-hours of batteries, enough for 300,000 EVs, though rocky demand for EVs means it is unclear when production will scale up. Hyundai has not published a specific date by which it expects the plant to reach full output.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, which first reported the production start, said the company declined to share further details beyond confirming the ramp-up plan.
SK On continues to expand its U.S. manufacturing footprint through partnerships with major automakers, and for Hyundai Motor Group, securing a local battery supply is becoming increasingly important as competition in the EV market intensifies.
